Rep. Gene Newman

Maddy summaryHB 558 prohibits health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from requiring patients to use only pharmacies they own for prescription drugs. It specifically bans insurers/PBMs from charging higher costs (like increased copays or deductibles) or offering lower reimbursements to independent pharmacies when patients choose them over insurer-owned pharmacies. The bill also prevents insurers/PBMs from denying preferred network status to independent pharmacies that agree to standard terms. This directly affects patients seeking pharmacy choice and independent pharmacies competing for reimbursement under health plans.

Maddy summaryHB 676 requires every vehicle owner in Mississippi to provide proof of minimum liability insurance coverage when registering or renewing a vehicle registration. It establishes an online verification system managed by the Department of Public Safety (replacing the Department of Revenue) to check insurance status instantly during registration. The system overrides physical insurance cards, denies registration for non-compliant vehicles, and mandates insurers to submit policy data every 30 days. This directly affects all vehicle owners and insurers operating in Mississippi, with the system required to be fully operational by 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1022 increases fines for seatbelt and child safety restraint violations to $100 per offense in Mississippi. It requires collected fines to be split equally between the State Department of Education and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to fund driver education and training programs. The bill applies to all drivers and passengers violating seatbelt laws (with specific exemptions listed, such as farm vehicles or medical exemptions), but fines will not appear on driving records. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026, though the bill died in committee before passing.

Maddy summaryHB 1043 would amend Mississippi's retirement system (PERS) to provide law enforcement officers and firefighters who joined PERS on or after July 1, 2011, with one additional year of creditable service for every five years they serve as first responders. This benefit applies to members with at least four years of membership service and is provided at no cost to the employee. The change directly affects eligible first responders by accelerating their retirement eligibility without requiring additional contributions. It modifies existing PERS service credit rules to recognize frontline service duration more favorably for this specific group.

Maddy summaryHB 830 revises Mississippi's rules limiting annual increases to property tax revenues (ad valorem taxes) for local governments. It allows counties and municipalities to exceed the standard 2% annual tax increase cap without holding an election by adopting a resolution, provided they stay within specific thresholds (e.g., not exceeding 20 mills total or a prior 10-year average). The bill also clarifies that school district taxes, road maintenance taxes, bond payments, and mandated new programs are excluded from the 2% limit. This directly affects county boards, city councils, and school districts when setting property tax rates. The changes aim to provide more flexibility for local governments to fund services while maintaining some fiscal restraint.

Maddy summaryHB 1121 authorizes Jackson State University to build a new standalone football stadium (separate from the current Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium site) and creates the "Jackson State University Stadium Construction Fund." The bill requires the university to raise at least $10 million in private or nonstate funds within five years before state funds can cover remaining construction costs, with naming rights and advertising revenue funding the stadium through the new fund. It also transitions ownership of the Veterans Memorial Stadium property to the university, assigns demolition costs to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (not state funds), and dissolves the existing stadium commission upon completion. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has not advanced further.

Maddy summaryHB 1505 creates a grant program within Mississippi's Department of Public Safety to help local law enforcement and public safety agencies create standardized digital maps of critical infrastructure (like buildings and campuses). It allows municipalities, counties, or state law enforcement agencies to apply for grants to produce verified mapping data that integrates with existing emergency response software, includes detailed floor plans, accurate 3D orientation, and site-specific labels. The bill establishes a dedicated state fund for these grants and requires all produced maps to be permanently accessible at no ongoing cost to agencies. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and is inactive.

Maddy summaryHB 1536 would have allocated $450,000 from the Capital Expense Fund to the 2024 Local Improvements Projects Fund, directing specific distributions to 30+ local projects across 15 Mississippi counties and cities. The bill specified funding for infrastructure (e.g., road paving, courthouse repairs), public safety (sheriff’s cars, fire department equipment), and community facilities (amphitheaters, river docks, historic districts). It affected municipalities like Columbus, West Point, and Senatobia, as well as county entities and volunteer fire departments. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1509 changes Mississippi's district attorneys' salary structure, setting their annual pay at 95% of circuit and chancery court judges' salaries starting January 1, 2026. This replaces previous fixed amounts ($134,400 for 2023-2025) with a formula tied to judicial compensation. The bill directly affects all full-time district attorneys and their legal assistants, whose salaries are set at 80-90% of the district attorney's pay based on their legal experience. The change takes effect after the current salary schedule expires, aligning district attorneys' compensation more closely with judicial salaries.

Maddy summaryHB 1203 prohibits camping on most public property in Mississippi, including sidewalks, streets, highways, and alleys, unless the area is specifically designated for camping by local authorities or state law. It defines "camping" to include setting up tents, sleeping bags, or other personal items and requires all camping to occur only in authorized locations. Local governments can remove camping materials after 24 hours' notice (or immediately for unsanitary or dangerous items) and must provide information about housing or health resources when removing individuals. Violations may result in penalties, but courts can consider mitigating factors like access to services when determining punishment.