Rep. Fabian Nelson

Maddy summaryHB 1550 would establish Mississippi's first state minimum wage at $8.50 per hour for most workers, effective immediately. Tipped employees would receive a base wage of $3.62 per hour, with tips required to bring their total earnings to at least $8.50. The bill also requires overtime pay at 1.5x regular rate for employees earning $455 or less weekly, specifically protecting manual laborers, public safety workers (like police and firefighters), and others from exemption. It exempts certain industries but aligns with federal overtime rules for uncovered workers. The bill died in committee without becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 844 would have required Mississippi drivers to use headlights during adverse weather (like rain, snow, fog, or sleet) or other conditions that reduce visibility, such as when windshield wipers are needed. It prohibited using only parking lights when headlights were required and set a $25 fine for violations. The bill directly affected all drivers operating vehicles on Mississippi roads during these conditions. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 574 establishes the Mississippi Community Schools Grant Program, providing funding to school districts approved as "districts of innovation" to develop community schools. These schools partner with community organizations to offer integrated health services, extended learning programs, and family engagement opportunities - such as after-school activities, mental health support, and adult education - while operating under state education department oversight. The grant distributes a minimum $200,000 per eligible district, plus additional funds based on student enrollment and free lunch eligibility, with all funding subject to legislative appropriation. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and remains unenacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1008, the "Period of Quiet Reflection Act," would require Mississippi public school classrooms to begin each school day with a maximum 60-second period of silent reflection, mandated by local school boards. The bill explicitly states this quiet time is not intended as a religious exercise but as a non-religious moment of reflection for students. It would have taken effect July 1, 2025, if passed. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not advance further.

Maddy summaryHB 841 requires Mississippi's Secretary of State to post online notices each time a voter roll purge occurs, including the date of the purge. This applies to all counties and ensures the public can access this information for at least one year after the purge. The bill does not change who is purged from voter rolls (e.g., voters who die, lose rights due to crime, or fail registration rules) but mandates transparency about when purges happen. It directly affects voters and the public by making voter roll changes more visible. The bill was referred to committee but died there in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 843 requires Mississippi's Secretary of State to create a secure online portal on their official website. This portal would let voters who cast affidavit ballots (used when unable to show ID or verify registration) enter a PIN (like last four SSN digits) to check if their vote was counted within 30 days of an election. If rejected, the portal would display the specific reason for rejection. The bill directly affects voters using affidavit ballots in Mississippi elections, providing transparency about their ballot status. It does not change eligibility rules but adds a verification mechanism for those ballots.

Maddy summaryHB 1117 would have required Mississippi courts to automatically clear (expunge) court records for certain misdemeanor cases without requiring individuals to file petitions. It specifically applied to cases where a person was arrested but later released, the charges were dismissed or dropped, there was no court disposition, or the person was found not guilty at trial. The bill would have eliminated the current need for people to seek court approval for expungement in these scenarios, affecting individuals with dismissed or non-conviction misdemeanor records. However, the bill did not become law, as it died in committee on February 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 604 requires Mississippi law enforcement officers to immediately explain the reason for stopping or detaining a person during the stop itself. It applies to all officers (including those with authority to stop individuals) and directly affects people stopped by police. The bill mandates that officers articulate the reason for the stop while it is occurring, covering both consensual and nonconsensual detentions or searches. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1597 proposes a Medicaid waiver to create "Healthy Mississippi Works" (HMW), targeting low-income adults aged 19-64 with income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. To qualify, individuals must work at least 80 hours monthly, be full-time students, or participate in workforce training - excluding those offered employer insurance or non-citizens. The plan requires all enrollees to receive services through managed care organizations, pay copayments for nonemergency ER visits (waived with pre-visit nurse hotline contact), and includes work-support services like job training. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and never became law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates legal immunity for Mississippi parents or guardians who voluntarily turn in firearms they found in their minor child's (under 18) possession. It allows them to surrender the guns to law enforcement without providing ID, fingerprints, or payment, and police must destroy the firearms if not needed as evidence. The law applies to any firearm the minor owned, controlled, or possessed - regardless of whether it was used in a crime. It does not cover firearms intended for inmate contraband.