Rep. Zakiya Summers

Maddy summaryHB 1377 requires Mississippi's State Department of Education to conduct a two-year assessment of all public and charter school facilities by December 2027. The study must evaluate building safety, space utilization, and modernization needs, and will be completed with a report for the Legislature and Governor by January 2028. The bill allocates $5 million from state lottery funds ($2.5 million each for fiscal years 2026 and 2027) to fund the assessment, potentially hiring outside experts to assist. This bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and is not currently active.

Maddy summaryHB 1342 would require physicians and osteopaths in Mississippi specializing in general practice, pediatrics, obstetrics, or gynecology to complete continuing medical education (CME) on cultural competence and implicit bias as part of their annual license renewal process. The State Board of Medical Licensure would verify this requirement before issuing a renewed license, ensuring these providers meet the new CME standard. The bill defines cultural competence as effectively addressing health issues across diverse backgrounds and implicit bias as unconscious attitudes influencing healthcare decisions. This change would integrate these topics into existing CME requirements without adding extra hours, directly affecting providers in those specific specialties.

Maddy summaryHB 754, the "Trust in Law Enforcement Act," would require Mississippi's Department of Public Safety to create a public database tracking specific law enforcement officer misconduct by January 1, 2026. The database would include verified incidents like untruthfulness in official records, repeated failures to complete required training, certification revocations, terminations for cause, and resignations during active investigations. Law enforcement agencies would report this information monthly, and officers could request corrections if errors were found. The public would access the searchable database online, with updates ensuring data accuracy without guaranteeing completeness.

Maddy summaryHB 1418 establishes contraception as a fundamental right in Mississippi, guaranteeing individuals the legal right to access contraceptives and healthcare providers the right to offer them. The bill prohibits state or local restrictions that single out contraception services, require clear and convincing evidence for any limitations, and updates pharmacy law to allow pharmacists to provide hormonal contraceptives under collaborative agreements. It creates civil remedies for violations, enabling affected individuals or providers to sue those enforcing restrictive policies. The law directly impacts patients seeking reproductive care, healthcare providers, and facilities offering contraception, while explicitly preserving existing insurance coverage rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1345 would create a program providing rebates to Mississippi residents aged 65 or older (or widows/widowers aged 50+ or permanently disabled persons aged 18+) for a portion of their annual property taxes or rent paid on their primary residence (homestead). The bill specifies a 20% rebate on eligible property taxes or rent, with income limits adjusted yearly based on the Consumer Price Index. Claimants would need to file applications by June 30 each year (with late filings accepted until December 31 if funds remain), providing proof of age, income, and housing costs. Funding would initially come from general state appropriations but shift to lottery proceeds after July 1, 2028, as outlined in the bill's provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 715 creates a Downtown Jackson Revitalization Coalition composed of 21 stakeholders, including federal officials (e.g., U.S. Senators), state leaders (e.g., Governor, Legislature heads), and local representatives (e.g., Jackson Mayor, community organizations). The coalition must develop a comprehensive revitalization plan through monthly meetings and submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature by January 10, 2026, detailing resource inventories, activities, and recommendations for economic development, infrastructure, and crime reduction. This bill establishes a collaborative process but does not allocate funding or create new policies; it directly affects downtown Jackson's planning framework by mandating coordinated stakeholder input.

Maddy summaryHB 1411 would authorize a licensed gaming establishment in Jackson, Mississippi, by creating a City of Jackson Development Fund funded through additional fees from new gaming licenses. The bill establishes a program to provide loans and grants for business development and infrastructure in Jackson, with funds disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration. It also includes a revenue protection clause ensuring Vicksburg or Warren County receive funding if their gaming revenue falls below historical averages after a new casino opens. The bill primarily modifies gaming licensing rules and revenue distribution mechanisms under Mississippi's Gaming Control Act.

Maddy summaryHB 1054 would increase the authorized number of full-time assistant public defenders in Hinds County (within Mississippi's Seventh Circuit Court District) from current levels to six. It requires Hinds County to provide these new staff with office space, equipment, supplies, two investigators, two legal secretaries, and operating expenses at a level equal to or exceeding what the county prosecutor's office receives. The bill mandates these resources be funded through specific legislative appropriations, subject to available funding. This directly affects Hinds County public defenders and their ability to handle criminal cases.

Maddy summaryHB 719 requires Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to identify up to five toxic air pollutants posing heightened health risks to infants and children, and to establish a list of these substances within the bill's timeframe. The MDEQ must review existing control measures for listed pollutants within two years and, within three years, prepare reports on the need for new regulations for up to five unregulated pollutants, followed by adopting appropriate control measures to reduce public exposure. The department must annually evaluate at least 15 toxic air pollutants, provide health exposure thresholds, and update the list by July 1, 2026, with annual revisions thereafter. This bill directly affects public health protections for vulnerable populations by mandating MDEQ action to address air quality risks through specific timelines and reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1346 creates two new bodies within Mississippi's Department of Human Services: an Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and a Community Advisory Council on Homelessness. The Task Force (comprising state agency leaders) must develop a statewide plan to reduce homelessness and improve housing stability, while the Advisory Council (with community members including people with lived experience of homelessness) provides annual recommendations to the Task Force. Both entities are required to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature, starting in 2025. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and has not become law.