Rep. Grace Butler-Washington

Maddy summaryHB 1671 authorizes Mississippi to issue state bonds to fund the construction, equipment, and furnishings for a hydroponics research and teaching greenhouse at Alcorn State University. The bill specifies that bond proceeds must be used exclusively for this project, with the State Bond Commission managing the bond issuance and sale. The bonds would be backed by the full credit of the State of Mississippi, and funds would be deposited into a dedicated special account for the greenhouse. This legislation directly affects Alcorn State University by providing dedicated funding for a new research facility focused on hydroponics education and innovation.

Maddy summaryHB 1668 appropriates $500,000 from the State General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund the 211 Mississippi helpline, a statewide service connecting residents to local health and human services. The funding supports the United Way of the Capital Area, Inc., which operates the helpline that helps callers find resources based on their specific needs and location. This is a straightforward funding bill with no policy changes, solely providing financial support for an existing service. The bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee but died there on February 26, 2025, and did not advance further.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds specifically for preplanning costs related to repairs, renovations, and upgrades of the Walter Washington Administration and Classroom Building at Alcorn State University. The bonds, backed by the state's full faith and credit, would fund only the preplanning phase (not construction), with proceeds restricted to this building project. The bill details bond issuance procedures, repayment terms, and ensures funds cannot be diverted to other uses. The bill was referred to the Ways and Means committee but died there in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1049 appropriated $150,000 from the State General Fund to the City of Jackson's governing authorities for park improvements at Leavell Woods Park during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill, which died in committee on February 26, 2025, would have provided state funding to assist the city with costs for enhancing this specific public park.

Maddy summaryHB 1819 proposed a $300,000 state appropriation to Hinds County's Board of Supervisors for paving specific streets within House District 69 (overlapping Supervisor's District 3), including Monticello Drive and Westhaven Boulevard, for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill would have funded these street paving projects using unappropriated state funds. It died in committee on February 26, 2025, and never became law. This was a procedural funding measure, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1795 is a funding bill that would have allocated $3.4 million from the state general fund to the Town of Fayette, Mississippi, for specific local projects during fiscal year 2026. The funds were intended for constructing a new water treatment plant ($2 million), creating a public lake/park ($200,000), sewer system upgrades ($1 million), preparing sites for economic development along U.S. Highway 61 ($100,000), and matching funds for a new fire engine ($100,000). The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and never became law. This was a straightforward funding appropriation, not a policy change, directly affecting Fayette's infrastructure and public services.

Maddy summaryHB 710 would exempt sales of both children's and adult diapers from Mississippi's sales tax. This change directly affects consumers who purchase these essential items, including low-income families and elderly individuals requiring adult diapers. The bill amends existing tax law to add diapers to the list of exempt items, similar to how food and medical supplies are currently treated. It does not change other tax rules but removes a tax burden specifically on these hygiene products. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1797 proposed appropriating $64,055,883 from Mississippi's general fund to increase salaries for faculty at public universities, aiming to bring their pay closer to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) average. The bill directly affected Mississippi's public university faculty by providing funding for salary adjustments during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). Key provisions included the specific appropriation amount and a requirement that the funds be used solely to adjust faculty compensation toward the SREB benchmark. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1673 would authorize Mississippi to issue state bonds to fund renovations and upgrades to the K.L. Simmons Technology Building at Alcorn State University. The bond proceeds would be restricted solely to this specific building project, with the state pledging its full faith and credit for repayment. As a financial authorization bill, it does not create new policy but provides funding mechanisms for a single university facility improvement.

Maddy summaryHB 1780 proposed appropriating $9,387,582 from Mississippi's State General Fund to support Alcorn State University's agricultural land-grant research and extension programs for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill would have directly funded Alcorn State's agricultural research initiatives and community outreach programs, which serve Mississippi farmers and rural communities. It was referred to the Appropriations Committee but died there on February 26, 2025, meaning it did not become law. This was a procedural funding bill with no policy changes, solely allocating existing state funds for a specific university program.