Rep. Kimberly Remak

Maddy summaryHB 1421, which died in committee in February 2025, proposed significant changes to Mississippi's eviction process. It would have required eviction documents (summons and complaint) to be served within 72 hours of filing, set court hearings within 14 days, and mandated a 7-day minimum move-out period after a judgment (removing the court's ability to extend this). The bill also required specific notices in summonses explaining tenant rights, including the right to pay rent before a hearing to avoid eviction. These changes would have directly affected tenants facing eviction and landlords seeking possession of rental properties.

Maddy summaryHB 1278 establishes the Hometown Heroes Home Loan Guaranty Program to help eligible firefighters, law enforcement officers, nurses, and teachers secure conventional home loans for their primary residence. To qualify, applicants must have at least four years of continuous full-time employment in their profession and certify they will apply for homestead exemption. The program creates a dedicated "Hometown Heroes Home Loan Guaranty Fund" in the state treasury, administered by the Department of Finance and Administration, which will provide loan guarantees using state appropriations without lapsing unspent funds at year-end. This fund will cover loan guaranties for qualified individuals seeking conventional financing for home purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 198 would have authorized sheriffs and deputies in Mississippi counties with 150,000+ residents (per 2020 census) to use radar speed detection equipment on public county roads outside incorporated municipalities (excluding interstates), but only after county board approval. The bill required county boards to formally approve radar use and gave the Department of Public Safety authority to remove equipment if abuse was reported and verified. It did not affect municipal police or the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 700 (corrected title: "Amending disabled parking license plate provisions") modifies Mississippi's process for obtaining and renewing special disabled parking license plates. It requires physician certification confirming a disability that limits walking (e.g., inability to walk 200 feet without resting, needing assistive devices, or specific medical conditions) for initial issuance and renewal. The bill specifies that plates/decal validity aligns with vehicle registration periods, mandates renewal with updated physician certification, and requires surrender of expired permits. *Note: The bill's title incorrectly mentions "increasing fines," but the actual text focuses solely on permit eligibility and renewal rules, not fines for violations.* The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 817 establishes a formal process for removing Mississippi school board members who commit misconduct or neglect duties. It authorizes removal for specific violations like malfeasance (wrongful actions), misfeasance (improper execution of duties), nonfeasance (failure to act), breach of public trust, or abuse of authority - explicitly adding chronic absenteeism from board meetings as grounds for removal due to neglect of duties. The bill requires school boards to formally recommend removal to local governing authorities, mandates a 30-day response period for the accused, and sets a hearing process with relaxed evidence rules where removal requires a majority vote. It also creates a judicial appeal path to circuit court for those challenging removal decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 200 amends Mississippi's public purchasing law to allow state agencies and local governments to skip certain federal procurement requirements when federal law itself permits exemptions. It removes redundant state-level compliance by aligning Mississippi's rules with existing federal exceptions, directly affecting entities handling public purchases like construction, supplies, or services. The bill maintains Mississippi's current bidding thresholds (e.g., $5,000 for simplified purchases, $75,000 for competitive bidding) but eliminates unnecessary steps when federal law already provides a waiver. This change streamlines procurement without altering Mississippi's core purchasing procedures or creating new exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 201 clarifies procedures for counties to address private property deemed a public health or safety hazard. It requires county boards to provide written notice and public postings before removing personal property (like debris or belongings) from such properties, and gives owners 30 days to reclaim items. If unclaimed, the county may sell the property at public auction, with proceeds deposited into the county treasury. The bill primarily affects property owners in Mississippi whose land is adjudicated a hazard, ensuring standardized notice and recovery steps before disposal.

Maddy summaryHB 22 expands eligibility for Mississippi's special disability license plates to include residents with vision 20/200 or worse in one eye (with correction), adding this condition to the existing definition of disabilities that limit walking ability. This change directly affects Mississippi residents with qualifying vision impairments who previously did not meet the walking-based criteria for these plates. To qualify, applicants must provide physician certification confirming the vision disability will last at least five years, similar to current requirements for other qualifying disabilities. The bill amends existing law to include this visual impairment under the same renewal and documentation processes for special plates and decals.

Maddy summaryHB 363 exempts dentistry and optometry from Mississippi's Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act. This means dentists and optometrists licensed in other states cannot use the streamlined process under the Act to obtain a Mississippi license. The bill amends Section 73-50-2 to remove these professions from the list of occupations covered by the recognition law, requiring them to follow standard licensing procedures instead. The change directly affects licensed dentists and optometrists seeking to practice in Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 818 requires Mississippi public school districts to create and implement age-appropriate policies restricting student cell phone use from the start to end of the school day ("bell-to-bell"). The bill mandates that phones be stored (not carried) during instructional time, prohibits suspensions or expulsions for violations, and bans social media access via school networks. Exceptions allow phones for students with health needs or IEPs. This directly affects all K-12 public school students and requires school boards to publicly post these policies.