Rep. Earle Banks

Maddy summaryThis bill restores voting rights to Sandra L. Warner of Hinds County, Mississippi, who was previously disqualified from voting due to a conviction for possession of stolen property. The legislation removes her disqualification status after she completed her five-year sentence and probation, noting she has since lived as a law-abiding citizen. Once passed, the act takes effect immediately, allowing Warner to register and vote in future elections. The measure applies only to this specific individual and does not change broader voting laws or affect other citizens.

Maddy summaryHB 4011 extends the expiration date of Jackson's existing convention and visitors tax from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2030. It authorizes an additional 1% tax on hotel and motel sales and a 0.5% tax on restaurant sales within Jackson, but requires a public election before these new rates take effect. The taxes would apply to businesses meeting the $100,000 annual sales threshold in Jackson (excluding small lodgings under 10 units and 501(c)(3) non-profits). This bill directly affects hotels, motels, and qualifying restaurants in Jackson by potentially increasing their tax burden if voters approve the new rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HC 37) is a request to replace Mississippi's statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall with a statue of either B.B. King or Elvis Presley. It directly affects Mississippi's representation in the Capitol's collection, seeking to honor two iconic Mississippi-born musicians instead of a figure associated with the Confederacy. The bill cites Mississippi's status as the "Birthplace of America's Music" and highlights B.B. King's blues legacy and Elvis Presley's rock 'n' roll influence as fitting modern cultural symbols. The resolution formally asks the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve this change under existing statutory authority.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 designates a one-mile segment of Mississippi Highway 537 in Yazoo County as the "Colonel Donnell Berry Memorial Highway" to honor Colonel Donnell Berry. The Mississippi Department of Transportation will install and maintain signage along this highway segment. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026. This is a commemorative designation with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1126 increases base teacher salaries by $5,000 annually starting with the 2026-2027 school year, with an additional $3,000 annual supplement for licensed special education teachers and $6,000 for certified occupational therapists and school psychologists. It also raises assistant teachers' pay by $5,000 and caps superintendent salaries at 250% of equivalent teacher pay, including district supplements. The bill includes related provisions for retirement benefits for first responders and revised roles for student success coaches, but its core focus is direct compensation increases for educators.

Maddy summaryHB 4009 exempts admissions charged for athletic games or contests between universities or colleges from Mississippi's 7% sales tax. This directly affects colleges and universities that charge admission to intercollegiate sporting events. The bill amends Mississippi's tax code to explicitly include these admissions under the existing exemption listed in Section 27-65-22(3)(c), removing them from the standard sales tax calculation. The change applies only to admissions for games between educational institutions, not to professional sports or other event types covered under separate exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 726 authorizes Mississippi to issue state bonds to fund the City of Jackson's costs for acquiring, removing, and demolishing deteriorated and blighted properties near state-owned lands and within the Farish Street Historic District. The bill directly affects Jackson residents and property owners in these specific areas by providing state financial assistance for neighborhood cleanup. Key provisions include creating a dedicated fund for these demolition costs, using bonds backed by Mississippi's full credit, and restricting funds exclusively to property removal and acquisition. This is a concrete funding mechanism, not a policy change in land use or development standards.

Maddy summaryHB 739 appropriates $31.4 million from the State General Fund to Jackson State University for specific renovations and safety projects during fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). The funds will directly affect Jackson State students, faculty, and staff by financing interior renovations to the T.B. Ellis Building ($12.9M), Heritage Building ($8.5M), and Rose E. McCoy Auditorium ($5.7M), plus campus safety enhancements ($4.3M). Key provisions include allocating exact dollar amounts for each project area without creating new policies or requirements. This is a straightforward funding bill, not a legislative policy change, focused solely on financing existing planned improvements.

Maddy summaryHB 853 appropriates $400,000 from the state general fund to the City of Jackson for demolishing a specific structure in the Farish Street Historic District. The bill targets a former agricultural/industrial building deemed a public health and safety nuisance, requiring its removal to address community welfare concerns. This funding, effective July 1, 2026, covers demolition costs associated with the city’s cleanup efforts in the historic district. The measure directly supports Jackson’s municipal operations for this targeted infrastructure project.

Maddy summaryHB 1334 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund an emergency access road connecting Jackson Municipal Airport (Hawkins Field) to Jackson Fire Station 20. The bill directly affects the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, which would use the bond proceeds to cover construction costs for this specific road project. The key mechanism is the state's pledge of full faith and credit to repay the bonds, with funds disbursed solely for this infrastructure purpose.