Rep. Bo Brown

Maddy summaryHB 1681 appropriates $500,000 from the state general fund to the City of Jackson for park improvements at Grove Park and its recreational facilities in Ward 4, covering fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026). The bill directly affects residents of Ward 4 who use Grove Park, providing state funding to cover costs for facility upgrades. It is a procedural funding measure with no new policy requirements, solely authorizing the state treasurer to disburse the allocated amount. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1683 proposed a $2.5 million state appropriation to Hinds County for the Sheriff's Department to purchase body cameras and ten additional vehicles during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill would have directly assisted Hinds County law enforcement by covering equipment costs through state funds from the General Fund. It included standard payment mechanisms requiring state treasurer disbursement upon proper requisitions. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1691) would have provided $1,525,000 from the state general fund to assist the City of Jackson in covering costs for specific projects in Northwest Jackson during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The funds were earmarked for Grove Park recreational facility improvements ($500,000), surveillance cameras in public areas ($25,000), and bridge/sidewalk repairs ($1,000,000). The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and was never enacted into law. It directly affected the City of Jackson’s budget and infrastructure planning for Northwest Jackson.

Maddy summaryHB 1684 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund the City of Jackson's construction of a new Fire Station 5. The bonds would cover demolition of the existing Station 5 on North State Street, building the new station, and purchasing a large ladder truck. Proceeds would be transferred directly to Jackson for these specific fire station costs, with repayment secured by Mississippi's full credit. The bill specifies the funds cannot be used for other purposes and requires the State Bond Commission to manage the bond issuance process.

Maddy summaryHB 1945 appropriates $21.89 million from the state general fund to Hinds County for specific infrastructure and public safety projects during fiscal year 2026. The funds will directly support the construction of a new county detention center, courthouse renovations, road repairs in Jackson and rural communities, water association improvements, and public safety equipment like surveillance cameras and emergency sirens. This bill provides state funding for existing county projects but does not create new laws or policies. The bill was referred to committee in February 2025 but died there and did not become law.

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 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 857 expands Mississippi's literacy program to support students in grades 4 through 8 by requiring evidence-based reading instruction and interventions. It mandates annual universal reading screenings for all students in these grades, professional development for teachers focused on the "science of reading" (including phonics and decoding), and prohibits the use of "three-cueing systems" for teaching word reading. The bill also creates a system to identify "Middle Literacy Support Schools" based on reading data and requires the state education department to develop a structured literacy course for grades 6-8. Schools must provide targeted interventions for struggling readers, and the department must submit annual implementation reports to the legislature.