Rep. Fabian Nelson

Maddy summaryHB 452 requires Mississippi's Secretary of State to publish a notice on the state's official website each time a voter roll purge occurs, including the specific date of the purge. The notice must remain accessible for at least one year after the purge. This provision increases transparency for voters, allowing them to verify if their name was removed from the voter list during a purge. The bill does not change the criteria for purging voter rolls but mandates public disclosure of purge events.

Maddy summaryHB 1003 revises Mississippi law to criminalize the *intentional transmission* of serious non-airborne infectious diseases (like HIV or hepatitis) instead of merely exposing others. It requires proof of specific intent to transmit and adds defenses, such as if the affected person knew the disease status beforehand or if transmission didn’t occur. The bill defines "substantial risk" using medical evidence and clarifies that failing to use protection (like condoms) alone doesn’t prove intent. It sets misdemeanor penalties (up to 1 year in jail or $1,000 fine) and includes specific provisions for transmission to corrections staff, visitors, or inmates. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1462, the "Mississippi Mental Health Days Act," allows students in Mississippi public and private schools to take up to two consecutive days off for mental health reasons as an excused absence under compulsory attendance laws. Schools must adopt policies by the 2026-2027 school year with procedures for recording these absences, staff outreach for students using multiple days, and referrals to mental health resources while protecting student privacy. The Mississippi Department of Education will develop model guidelines and collect annual, de-identified data on usage to support schools and inform policy improvements. The bill does not create new funding but directs schools to use existing resources and community partnerships for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1443 requires Mississippi public school districts to add age-appropriate instruction on preventing domestic violence and teen dating violence to all K-12 health education curricula. The bill mandates content covering prevention strategies, warning signs, healthy relationships, consent, and community resources, with all materials required to be developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive. It also obligates the State Department of Education to provide training and resources for educators to deliver this instruction effectively. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1419 requires licensed mental health professionals in Mississippi - including counselors, psychologists, social workers, and marriage and family therapists - to complete three graduate-level credit hours on domestic violence for initial licensure and two hours of continuing education on the topic for license renewal. The bill directly affects these professionals by adding specific domestic violence education requirements to their licensing and renewal processes. It amends Mississippi Code sections governing professional counseling licensure to mandate these educational components as part of qualification standards. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not advance further.

Maddy summaryHB 1550 proposes a voluntary statewide program to place bleeding control kits (including tourniquets and wound care supplies) in public buildings, schools, and high-traffic locations across Mississippi. It encourages state agencies, schools, and local governments to offer free evidence-based "Stop the Bleed" training to staff and the public, while providing legal immunity for good-faith emergency aid using these kits. The bill explicitly states no state funds are required, relying instead on federal grants, private donations, or existing resources. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1570, the "Mississippi Social Media Literacy and Online Safety Act," died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted. If passed, it would have required minors under 18 in Mississippi to complete a free, state-developed social media literacy course before using platforms, covering topics like cyberbullying prevention, digital privacy, and mental health. The bill also included a "Consequence Course" for repeated online misconduct and explicitly stated it would not restrict free speech or require social media platforms to monitor content. The proposed law would have taken effect July 1, 2026, but remains inactive after failing committee review.

Maddy summaryHB 1591 requires all Mississippi public high school students in grades 9-12 to complete a driver education program offered by their school district starting with the 2028-2029 school year. School districts must maintain these programs beginning in 2026-2027, and upon successful completion, students receive a Certificate of Completion issued by the school and sent to the State Department of Education. The bill directly affects all students enrolled in day secondary schools within districts that already maintain driver education programs. It mandates participation as a graduation requirement, replacing previous voluntary options for these students. The policy change is effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1693 would allow Mississippi's Department of Corrections (MDOC) to review conditional release requests for inmates sentenced to life imprisonment for capital murder who are 65 years or older and have served at least 15 years of their sentence. The bill specifically affects elderly inmates convicted of capital murder under current life-sentence terms, not other life-sentence cases. If approved, MDOC would set the conditions for their early release under supervision, but this would not guarantee release. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1517, the "Mississippi Second Chance Act," changes parole eligibility rules for certain incarcerated individuals in Mississippi. It reduces the required prison time for parole consideration: violent offenders (including robbery, drive-by shootings, and carjacking) become eligible after serving 50% of their sentence or 15 years, whichever is less, while murder convictions require 25 years for first-degree and 20 years for second-degree murder. Habitual offenders gain parole eligibility after 10 years of incarceration, and these changes apply retroactively to all affected individuals since July 1, 1995. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and does not alter sentencing but adjusts when parole eligibility is assessed.