Rep. Gene Newman

Maddy summaryHB 160 would require Mississippi's Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning to conduct formal reviews of tenured professors at all public universities every five years. The bill mandates that the board establish specific criteria and components for these evaluations, though it does not detail the exact standards. This policy directly affects tenured faculty members across Mississippi's public higher education institutions. The legislation amends existing law to implement this mandatory review process without specifying the evaluation metrics.

Maddy summaryHB 170 revises Mississippi's Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) provisions governing investment securities. It clarifies jurisdictional rules for security transfers (Section 75-8-110), specifies that securities intermediaries hold assets for entitlement holders (not as their own property, Section 75-8-503), and establishes priority rules when intermediaries cannot satisfy all claims (Section 75-8-511). The bill directly affects securities intermediaries (e.g., banks), entitlement holders (security owners), and creditors of intermediaries. Key mechanisms include updated rules for determining which state's laws apply to security disputes and clear priority for entitlement holders over creditors when intermediaries face insolvency. These changes align Mississippi's securities laws with modern financial practices.

Maddy summaryHB 159, the "Public Safety for Public Property Act," prohibits camping and sleeping on public sidewalks, streets, alleys, and other public property in Mississippi for more than 24 hours. It bans sleeping in entrances to properties abutting sidewalks and requires removal of unsanitary items or personal property left behind. Exceptions allow camping only in locations specifically designated by local governments or state agencies, which require applicants to provide $1 million in insurance coverage. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1125 prohibits health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from requiring patients to use only pharmacies they own. It also bans insurers/PBMs from charging patients more or offering worse plan terms (like higher copays) if they choose an independent pharmacy instead of an owned one. The bill mandates equal reimbursement rates for independent pharmacies compared to owned pharmacies for the same services and prevents denying independent pharmacies preferred network status. This updates Mississippi’s existing pharmacy choice law (Section 83-9-6) to directly address insurer/PBM practices that limit patient options and increase costs. The bill affects all patients enrolled in health benefit plans and independent pharmacies in Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 640 would amend Mississippi law to allow county sheriffs and deputies to use radar speed detection equipment on public roads, streets, and highways within their county that lie outside city limits. Currently, this use is restricted to specific municipal officers or the Highway Safety Patrol; the bill explicitly adds sheriffs as authorized users on all non-city county roads. This change directly affects drivers on rural county roads by expanding where speed enforcement via radar can occur. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 191 would provide Mississippi law enforcement officers and firefighters who joined the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) after July 1, 2011, and have at least four years of service with an automatic retirement credit. For every five years they work as first responders, they would earn one additional year toward their retirement, added to their service time at no cost to them. This change applies specifically to members who became part of PERS after 2011, not to all current members. The bill amended PERS rules to implement this incentive for eligible first responders.

Maddy summaryHB 1226 provides tuition, fee, and book cost waivers at Mississippi's public universities and community colleges for specific family members of veterans. It offers 100% tuition waivers for children of veterans who died in service or have a 100% VA disability rating, and 60% waivers for children, spouses, or unremarried widows/widowers of veterans with a 40-90% VA disability rating. To qualify, applicants must provide VA documentation, be Mississippi residents, and meet age limits (under 24, or continuing studies after 24). The program is administered by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, with funding secured by the Legislature. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1089 proposed to allow county sheriffs and deputies in Mississippi to use radar speed detection equipment on county roads, provided their county board of supervisors approves the use by majority vote and records the decision. This would expand existing exceptions (which currently cover municipal police in larger cities, campus police, and the Highway Patrol) to include county law enforcement. The bill required boards to formally approve and document radar use, with the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol to be notified of road blockages on highways. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 187 would reclassify texting while driving from a civil violation to a traffic violation in Mississippi, imposing a $100 fine per offense. The bill prohibits drivers from manually holding a phone to write, send, or read text messages (including social media) while operating a vehicle, excluding voice-operated or hands-free devices. It requires the Department of Public Safety to track citation data, including operator age, race, and whether additional violations or crashes occurred. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and has not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1119 (the "Representative Andy Stepp Pharmacy Benefit Prompt Pay Act") requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to reimburse pharmacies at least the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) for drugs plus a standard dispensing fee, ensuring pharmacies are paid fairly for medications. It prohibits PBMs from charging patients more than the amount retained by the pharmacy and bans PBMs from penalizing patients for choosing specific pharmacies or favoring certain pharmacies in networks. The bill also mandates clear appeal processes for pharmacies disputing low reimbursements and prohibits PBMs from retaliating against pharmacies for exercising rights under the law. These provisions directly affect PBMs, pharmacies, and patients in Mississippi by setting fair reimbursement standards and protecting patient choice.