Rep. Lance Varner

Maddy summaryHB 1376 would amend Mississippi law to allow county sheriffs and their chief deputies to use radar speed detection equipment on public roads and highways outside incorporated city limits. Currently, sheriffs were excluded from using radar on rural county roads, but this bill explicitly adds them to the list of authorized users under existing provisions. The change would directly affect county law enforcement officers who patrol unincorporated areas, enabling them to enforce speed limits on non-municipal roads. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and has not become law.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill (HB 1375) would require medical verification from birth to change the sex designation on a birth certificate. It prohibits corrections unless proven to be an error via birth medical records or a physician's confirmation that the sex recorded at birth was incorrect. The law directly affects residents seeking to update their birth certificate sex marker. It would take effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1685 requires Mississippi school districts to adopt policies regulating books sold at school book fairs. The policy must ban books with content related to "sexual orientation or gender identity," require vendors to provide title lists, mandate librarian review for prohibited content, and allow schools to cancel fairs if vendors refuse to remove banned titles. It directly affects school districts, students, and book fair vendors. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and has not become law, so these requirements are not currently in effect.

Maddy summaryHB 1634 would require Mississippi SNAP recipients aged 18-59 without children under 18 in their household (who don’t qualify for exemptions) to participate in an employment and training program, aligning with federal SNAP work rules. It aims to connect eligible adults to job training while maintaining SNAP benefits, though it specifies exemptions for those not deemed "eligible" for the program. The bill was introduced in 2026 but died in committee on February 3, 2026, and would not take effect until July 1, 2026, if passed. This proposal directly affects a specific group of SNAP recipients based on age and household composition.

Maddy summaryHB 1686 prohibits commercial venue operators from allowing performances involving sexual content in the presence of minors under 18 years old. It imposes civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce the law through fines or court injunctions. The bill would have taken effect on July 1, 2026, but it died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law. This legislation directly affects businesses hosting live entertainment, such as clubs or theaters, by restricting certain performances near minors.

Maddy summaryHB 1371, the Domestic Violence Transparency Act, would require Mississippi to create a public online registry for individuals convicted of domestic violence two or more times. The registry would include names, aliases, dates of birth, and photographs (but not Social Security numbers or addresses) and would be maintained by the Department of Public Safety. Court clerks would automatically send conviction details to the registry after a conviction or release, and registrants would pay a $150 fee within 30 days. Information would be removed after 5 to 20 years (depending on prior convictions) once all fines and restitution are paid, with disclaimers noting the registry only includes Mississippi state court convictions.

Maddy summaryHB 1312, the "Purple Angels Law," would require Mississippi to create a public registry of individuals convicted of multiple domestic violence offenses against the same victim (defined as having at least one prior conviction for such an offense). It mandates courts to send offender details to the Department of Public Safety, which would maintain the registry online with basic information like name, date of birth, and photo (excluding Social Security numbers). Offenders would pay a $250 registration fee, with $150 directed to domestic violence prevention services. The registry would automatically remove names after 5-20 years based on prior convictions or permanently for felony repeat offenders, but the bill died in committee in February 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill would add kratom to Mississippi's Schedule III controlled substances under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. It directly affects individuals who use or sell kratom products in Mississippi, as possession or distribution would become regulated under state law. The key mechanism is reclassifying kratom as a Schedule III substance, placing it alongside drugs like ketamine and certain barbiturates with recognized medical use but potential for abuse. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and is not currently law.

Maddy summaryHB 1100, the "Mississippi Teachers' Bill of Rights," would require teachers to create annual classroom management plans and grant teachers immediate authority to remove students for disruptive, threatening, or dangerous conduct (like persistent refusal to follow directions or verbal outbursts) without prior administrative approval. It mandates schools to notify parents about removal authority, establish clear timelines for plan approvals, and ensure removed students are placed under supervised administrative control - not suspended - while requiring written documentation and behavioral support plans for repeated removals. The bill directly affects Mississippi teachers, students, and school administrators by clarifying classroom management procedures, prohibiting principal interference with teacher removal decisions, and protecting teachers from retaliation for using these rights. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

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.