Maddy summaryHB 1237 (Community and junior colleges; expand workforce development partnerships) would have created a 21st Century Employment Grant Program requiring Mississippi community/junior colleges to partner with workforce organizations, manufacturers, healthcare providers, and technology businesses to develop job-training programs. It mandated that grant recipients create plans outlining specific graduate goals, teach 12 key professional skills (e.g., communication, problem-solving), offer at least six industry-recognized certificates, and secure private-sector funding up to 40% of program costs. The bill directly affected community colleges, students seeking job-ready skills, and local employers needing trained workers. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 678, the Mississippi Doxxing Prevention Act, prohibits intentionally sharing restricted personal information (like home addresses, phone numbers, or email) of specific protected individuals with the intent to harass or threaten them. It directly affects law enforcement officers, government employees, jurors, witnesses, and informants (defined as "covered persons") by creating criminal penalties: first offenses are misdemeanors (up to 6 months jail or $2,000 fine), while repeat offenses or cases involving violence become felonies (up to 10 years in prison or $10,000 fine). The bill also amends Mississippi’s public records law to exempt the restricted personal information of these covered persons from public disclosure. The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee but died there on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 1238 would have prohibited Mississippi private prisons housing state inmates from expanding their capacity and banned the state from entering new contracts with private facilities for this purpose. The bill specifically targeted facilities currently used by the state, blocking both capacity increases and new agreements under existing laws. This moratorium would have directly affected private correctional facilities operating under state contracts and prevented the state from expanding reliance on private incarceration. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.)
Maddy summaryHB 1550 would establish Mississippi's first state minimum wage at $8.50 per hour for most workers, effective immediately. Tipped employees would receive a base wage of $3.62 per hour, with tips required to bring their total earnings to at least $8.50. The bill also requires overtime pay at 1.5x regular rate for employees earning $455 or less weekly, specifically protecting manual laborers, public safety workers (like police and firefighters), and others from exemption. It exempts certain industries but aligns with federal overtime rules for uncovered workers. The bill died in committee without becoming law.
Maddy summaryHB 1236 requires all Mississippi K-12 public schools to fully implement a physical education curriculum aligned with the state’s adopted framework. It mandates 150 minutes per week of physical activity for grades K-8 and a half-credit physical education requirement (including CPR/AED training) for grades 9-12. Schools failing to comply risk having their state physical education funding reduced proportionally to per-pupil spending. The bill aims to address low student physical activity rates and health disparities by standardizing PE requirements across all public schools.
Maddy summaryHB 1235, if passed, would have required Mississippi’s State Board of Education to mandate vocational/technical courses and character education for all middle and high school students, plus students in alternative school programs, by the 2025-2026 school year. It also directed the development of a home economics curriculum covering life skills like cooking, budgeting, child development, and home management for secondary students. The bill aimed to integrate these practical skills into existing courses without specifying exact grade levels for implementation. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 1409 requires Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to study whether all retired public school teachers (not just those with 30+ years of service or in shortage areas) could work full-time in any public school district while continuing to receive their retirement allowance. The study must examine financial impacts like system liabilities and employer costs, with a report due to the legislature by December 1, 2025. This bill would expand the current limited policy (from HB 765, which restricted eligibility and pay) if implemented. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, so no changes to retirement rules have been enacted.
Maddy summaryHB 1396 would prohibit municipalities with populations over 145,000 (based on the 2020 census) from charging parking fees on public streets adjacent to county courthouses or other county government buildings. It specifically applies to individuals required to appear at these locations for official purposes like court dates, subpoenas, or public services. The bill would allow free parking for the duration of the visit or a reasonable time needed to access services, eliminating fees during these necessary trips. The proposed law was referred to committee in early 2025 but died there without further action, so it has not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 1233 would allow Mississippi public school board members who receive an annual salary (ranging from $4,000 to $6,000 based on district size) to join the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Currently, these members are barred from PERS membership, but the bill would let them elect to join by simply notifying their school district and the retirement system. The change applies only to board members who choose salary compensation over per diem pay, with no impact on existing per diem members. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 1232 requires Mississippi's Department of Mental Health and community mental health centers to expand outpatient and community-based services for former inmates diagnosed with mental illness during their time in state prisons. It specifically targets individuals no longer incarcerated who received a mental health diagnosis while in correctional facilities, with services funded using existing appropriations. The bill would have taken effect July 1, 2025, but died in committee on February 4, 2025, and is no longer active. This policy change focuses on connecting formerly incarcerated people with mental health care upon release, without creating new funding streams.