Rep. Bo Brown

Maddy summaryHB 873 creates a new 21st Century Employment Grant Program administered by Mississippi's Community College Board. It requires community and junior colleges to partner with workforce organizations, manufacturers, healthcare providers, and local businesses to develop training programs that teach specific professional skills (like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving) and offer at least six industry-recognized certificates. Grant recipients must include a business contribution of up to 40% of project costs and detail how students will transition into jobs or further education. The program includes an advisory board with representatives from economic development, education, unions, and industry to oversee implementation.

Maddy summaryMississippi's HB 872 requires the State Board of Education to develop mandatory curriculum components for all middle and high school students, including vocational/technical education, home economics, and character education, effective for the 2026-2027 school year. The home economics curriculum must include practical skills like cooking, budgeting, child development, and home management. Vocational courses must be integrated into existing school programs, with districts determining specific grade placements. The bill amends existing education codes to implement these requirements without changing funding structures. It directly affects all public school students in Mississippi's middle, high, and alternative education programs.

Maddy summaryHB 871 prohibits Mississippi municipalities with populations over 145,000 (as of the 2020 census) from charging parking fees on public streets adjacent to county courthouses or other county government buildings. It specifically exempts individuals required to appear at these locations for official purposes - such as court appearances, subpoenas, or using public services - during the time they are there. The law applies only to parking near these buildings and covers the duration of the required visit. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects residents and visitors needing to access county government services in qualifying municipalities.

Maddy summaryHB 1090 requires Mississippi's Department of Mental Health and community mental health centers to expand outpatient and community-based services for formerly incarcerated individuals diagnosed with mental illness during their time in state correctional facilities. The bill specifically targets this population to improve access to care after release, with services funded through existing appropriations. It mandates these expanded services for eligible individuals who are no longer incarcerated, aiming to support their reintegration. The bill was referred to committee in early 2026 but died there, so it has not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1088 requires Mississippi public K-12 schools to fully implement a physical education curriculum aligned with the state's framework. It mandates specific requirements: 150 minutes weekly of physical activity for K-8 students, a half-credit in physical education for high school graduation (starting 2015-2016), and hands-on CPR/AED training as part of the curriculum. Schools failing to comply would face reduced state education funding tied to their physical education spending. The law directly affects all Mississippi public K-12 schools and aims to increase student physical activity through standardized programming.

Maddy summaryHB 1089 requires Mississippi's State Board of Education to create a mandatory civics curriculum for all public middle and high schools, to be implemented by the 2027-2028 school year. The curriculum must cover five key areas: how government works (including the Constitution), civic skills like critical thinking about issues, and character traits such as respecting others' views, voting, jury service, and civil discourse. It specifically aligns with national civics standards and mandates instruction on citizens' responsibilities, including staying informed and participating in community decisions. The bill directly affects all Mississippi public school students in grades 6-12 through required classroom learning.

Maddy summaryHB 1110 would allow retired Mississippi teachers with at least 25 years of service (by July 2024) to return to classroom teaching while continuing to receive their retirement benefits. School districts could pay these returning teachers up to 125% of standard teacher salaries using existing education funds, with salaries based on their retirement-era experience and license type. Teachers must hold current teaching licenses, meet hiring criteria (including superintendent certification), and have a satisfactory performance review before retirement. The bill requires school districts to cover all costs of these positions from their budgets, without increasing expenses for the retirement system.

Maddy summaryHB 1437 requires Mississippi's State Department of Health to annually identify food deserts and associated health issues through a report to the legislature by December 31 each year. A "food desert" is defined as an area with at least 20% poverty where over one-third of residents live more than a mile from a supermarket or healthy food provider, limiting access to fresh produce. The department may use existing federal data to meet this reporting requirement, avoiding redundant data collection. This bill aims to provide transparency on food access gaps and their health impacts, directly affecting communities in underserved areas and informing future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1746 would have prohibited Mississippi from expanding the housing capacity of private prisons currently used to house state inmates and banned the state from entering new contracts with private facilities for this purpose. It directly affects private correctional facilities contracted with the state and the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The bill’s key provision, stated in Section 1, would have blocked both capacity increases at existing facilities and new agreements for housing state offenders at private prisons. The bill amended several sections of Mississippi law to align with this moratorium but died in committee on February 3, 2026, without becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1446, the "Robert G. Clark, Jr., Voting Rights Act of Mississippi," would create a Mississippi Voting Rights Commission to prevent voter suppression and protect voting rights. It prohibits political subdivisions (like counties and cities) and state agencies from implementing election policies that disproportionately affect racial, ethnic, or language minority voters, requiring such policies to be reviewed by the Commission before implementation. The bill also mandates protections for limited English proficient voters and voters with disabilities, requires advance notice of election policy changes, and establishes a statewide voting database with universities. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.