Rep. Earle Banks

Maddy summaryHB 1946 appropriates $31.4 million from the state general fund to fund specific renovations at Jackson State University (JSU) and campus safety enhancements for fiscal year 2026. The funds will cover interior renovations of the T.B. Ellis Building, Heritage Building, and Rose E. McCoy Auditorium, plus safety project improvements for students, faculty, and staff. The bill, which died in committee on February 26, 2025, directly affects JSU's campus infrastructure and community safety. It provides concrete funding for named projects without altering broader policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1944 appropriates $20.55 million from the state general fund to the Jackson Redevelopment Authority for fiscal year 2026. The funds directly support specific projects in Jackson, including revitalizing disinvested areas (like the Infill Housing Program and demolition of the old Atmos building), enhancing public safety (parking structure upgrades and Convention Center improvements), and advancing economic development (downtown business loans and Civic Arena planning). The bill outlines exact allocations for each project category but does not create new policies or change existing laws. It is a funding measure, not a substantive legislative change.

Maddy summaryHB 1920 appropriates $100 million (split equally as $50 million each) to Coahoma Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College for campus facility repairs and improvements through June 2026. The funds cover specific projects like restoring historic buildings, upgrading electrical/plumbing systems, modernizing academic spaces, improving student housing, enhancing safety systems, and implementing energy efficiency initiatives. Each college must submit a detailed plan with timelines and provide annual progress reports to the Legislature. The bill, referred to Appropriations committees in February 2025, died in committee and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1921 appropriates $300 million ($100 million to each) to Mississippi's three HBCUs - Alcorn State, Jackson State, and Mississippi Valley State - for repairing and upgrading campus buildings and infrastructure. The funds cover specific projects like restoring historic structures, modernizing electrical/plumbing systems, improving student housing, creating new academic spaces, enhancing safety systems, and supporting energy efficiency. Each university must submit a detailed plan for approval and provide annual progress reports to the legislature on how the money is spent.

Maddy summaryHR 37 is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives to commend Briana McElroy, a Jackson, Mississippi native and Lionsgate's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Digital Marketing, for her career achievements. The resolution highlights her work leading digital campaigns for major films like *John Wick: Chapter 4* and *The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes*, as well as her 8 Clio Awards and prior roles at Warner Bros. and Twitter. It does not create new laws or affect policy - it is solely a symbolic gesture of recognition adopted by the House and delivered to McElroy.

Maddy summaryHB 1559 would have required Mississippi inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes to serve at least 25% of their sentence (or 10 years, whichever is less) before release, and those convicted of violent crimes to serve 50% (or 20 years). The bill excluded certain cases from these rules, including human trafficking offenses (specifically listed in Section 47-7-3.2(2)(d)), sex offenses, life sentences, habitual offenders, and drug trafficking. It applied to crimes committed on or after July 1, 1995, and was scheduled to take effect in 2025. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and never became law.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits county boards of supervisors and municipal governing authorities in Mississippi from adopting or enforcing ordinances that allow the use of automated recording equipment to enforce automobile insurance requirements. The legislation prevents local governments from using cameras or optical devices that capture license plate images to verify insurance compliance and imposes fines or penalties for violations. Additionally, the bill sets a removal deadline of October 1, 2025, for any existing automated recording systems currently used for this purpose. The law applies specifically to public streets, roads, and highways within the state and defines automated recording equipment as cameras or optical devices linked to traffic signals or speed detection systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires alcohol retailers in Mississippi to provide breath analysis devices to patrons who request them. The law applies to businesses holding on-premises retailer permits under the state's local option alcohol beverage control law. If a patron asks to test their blood alcohol content, the business must have at least one functioning device available for use. The legislation also protects business owners from liability if the testing device shows a negative result or provides an incorrect reading. These requirements will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1011, which died in committee on February 4, 2025, proposed to amend Mississippi law to allow funeral director assistants (under a licensed funeral director's supervision) to perform nearly all tasks a funeral director can do, excluding making funeral arrangements. The bill would have directly affected funeral director assistants, their supervising licensed directors, and families using funeral services in Mississippi. Key provisions included expanding assistants' responsibilities to include activities like embalming and preparing bodies, while explicitly barring them from handling scheduling, pricing, or finalizing service details. The bill was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025, if enacted, but did not advance beyond committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1017 automatically restores voting rights for Mississippi residents convicted of a felony once they complete all sentencing requirements (such as prison time, probation, or fines). This affects individuals with felony convictions who have satisfied their court-ordered obligations. The bill amends multiple election code sections to require the Statewide Elections Management System to automatically reinstate their voter registration without needing a separate application. Previously, voters often had to petition for restoration, but this bill eliminates that step upon full compliance with sentencing.