Rep. Earle Banks

Maddy summaryHB 854 allows funeral director assistants, under a licensed funeral director's supervision, to perform nearly all tasks a funeral director can do - including preparing bodies and handling paperwork - but explicitly excludes them from making funeral arrangements (like selecting caskets or services). This bill directly affects funeral director assistants, their supervising licensed funeral directors, and funeral homes in Mississippi. The key change expands the assistants' scope of practice while maintaining the requirement for licensed directors to oversee arrangements. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 862 automatically restores voting rights for Mississippi residents convicted of felonies once they complete all court-ordered sentencing requirements (such as probation, fines, or incarceration). It directly affects people with felony convictions who have finished their sentences but were previously barred from voting. The bill amends Mississippi election law to remove the need for separate applications or actions to regain voting rights, ensuring automatic restoration into the voter database. This changes current practice where voting rights remained suspended until additional steps were taken. The bill does not alter eligibility requirements like citizenship or residency.

Maddy summaryHB 850 repeals Mississippi's current abortion restrictions (which allow exceptions for the mother's life or rape) and sets up a statewide referendum on November 3, 2026. Voters will decide whether to prohibit abortions except in those same circumstances (life preservation or rape). If a majority votes "Yes" (to prohibit), the repeal won't take effect; if a majority votes "No" (to allow the repeal), the new law banning abortions without those exceptions will take effect January 1, 2027. This directly affects all Mississippi residents seeking or providing abortions and the state's abortion access policies. The bill's outcome depends solely on voter approval in the special election.

Maddy summaryHB 857 requires Mississippi's Secretary of State to create rules enabling military personnel and overseas voters to vote early for all elections, including special elections and runoffs. This bill directly affects Mississippi residents serving in the military overseas by expanding their access to early voting, which previously may not have been uniformly available. Key provisions include establishing electronic delivery options (email or fax) for ballots and materials, aligning Mississippi's process with federal requirements under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. The bill mandates that registrars accept electronically submitted ballots and federal postcard applications, streamlining the voting process for military voters. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryMississippi's HB 861 would enact the state's participation in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC). If passed, Mississippi would join other states that have similarly enacted the agreement, committing to award all of its electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote. The bill specifies that participating states would calculate a "national popular vote total" across all member states and certify electors based on that result, rather than the state's own popular vote. This would only take effect once enough states collectively hold a majority of electoral votes (270+). The bill does not change Mississippi's current electoral process but aligns it with the NPVIC framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HC 26) proposes amending the Mississippi Constitution to establish a fundamental right to personal reproductive decisions, including abortion access before fetal viability or when necessary to protect life/health. It directly affects all Mississippi residents seeking reproductive healthcare by prohibiting state interference with these rights. The key provision would create a constitutional guarantee, requiring the state to refrain from denying or interfering with abortion access under the specified conditions. The amendment was referred to the Constitution committee but died there on February 3, 2026, and would have required voter approval in the November 2026 election if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 846 designates June 19 (Juneteenth) as an official legal holiday in Mississippi by amending Section 3-3-7 of the Mississippi Code of 1972. This change adds Juneteenth to the state's list of recognized holidays, meaning state government offices and agencies would close on this day, similar to other holidays like Independence Day. The bill directly affects state operations and public employees, aligning Mississippi with 47 other states that already recognize Juneteenth as a public holiday. It does not create new paid leave requirements for private employers or alter existing holiday schedules beyond this specific addition.

Maddy summaryHB 845 amends Mississippi law to officially recognize the second Monday in October as "Indigenous Native American Day" in the state's holiday calendar. This bill adds the day to the list of recognized observances (following Labor Day and preceding Veterans' Day) but specifies it is not a legal holiday requiring government office closures or paid time off. The change affects how Mississippi formally acknowledges Indigenous heritage, aligning with similar observances like Veterans' Day in public school activities. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not alter existing holiday schedules or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 852 amends Mississippi law to designate the last Monday of April as "Civil Rights Memorial Day," alongside "Confederate Memorial Day," for recognition and observation. The bill adds this designation to the state's list of legal holidays (Section 3-3-7 of the Mississippi Code) but clarifies it is not a paid holiday. It directly affects state government operations and public recognition practices, as this date will now officially honor both historical observances. The change focuses on naming the day for commemorative purposes, without altering holiday pay or work requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 855 repeals Mississippi's existing abortion restrictions and criminal penalties, effective July 1, 2026. It removes Section 41-41-45 (which limited abortion to preserving the mother's life or rape cases) and repeals Sections 97-3-3 to 97-3-5 that criminalized abortion providers, assisting in abortions, and failing to save infants from failed abortions. The bill directly affects individuals seeking or providing abortion care in Mississippi by eliminating these legal barriers and penalties. This change would allow abortion access under current medical standards without the previously enforced criminal sanctions.