Rep. Price Wallace

Maddy summaryHB 1199 authorizes Mississippi's Secretary of State to use the existing Land Records Maintenance Fund to contract with vendors for routine upkeep of unredeemed tax-sale lands (blighted properties) that remain unsold. This directly affects counties and municipalities responsible for maintaining these properties, allowing them to cover costs like mowing, debris removal, and minor repairs through competitive vendor contracts. The bill also prevents unspent funds in this dedicated account from lapsing into the General Fund at year-end. While the bill passed the House in January 2025, it died in the Senate Committee on Public Property and Appropriations on March 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1449 increases staffing in Mississippi's Twentieth Circuit Court District by amending two statutes. It raises the authorized number of assistant district attorneys from 11 to 13 (under Section 25-31-5) and adds one criminal investigator position, increasing the total to three (under Section 25-31-10). The bill directly affects the Twentieth Circuit Court District's prosecution office, which covers counties including Hinds, Rankin, and Madison. These changes would allow the district attorney's office to hire additional staff for criminal prosecutions, subject to available funding. The bill was referred to committee but died there on March 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 928 requires all Mississippi hospitals with emergency departments to have at least one qualified healthcare provider (physician, advanced nurse, or nurse practitioner) on duty during every shift who can conduct forensic exams and prepare evidence kits for sexual assault victims. The bill prohibits hospitals from refusing treatment to sexual assault victims and mandates they maintain sufficient evidence kits. It also specifies storage requirements for evidence kits in separate refrigeration units and allows hospitals to contract with forensic nurses for these services. This bill directly affects hospitals operating ERs and ensures timely, specialized medical care for sexual assault survivors in emergency settings.

Maddy summaryHB 937 amends Mississippi Code Section 19-5-22 to clarify who can serve as a hearing officer for disputes over unpaid solid waste fees. It allows county boards of supervisors to appoint a hearing officer from their own membership, county staff, or another qualified impartial person - excluding the board attorney or tax collector's staff - to handle these disputes. This change directly affects property owners and waste generators who owe delinquent fees, as well as county boards managing the collection process. The bill specifies that hearing officers must remain impartial, with no conflicts of interest or personal stake in the outcome.

Maddy summaryHB 1198 requires that land sold at a tax sale automatically transfers to the State of Mississippi if the purchaser does not demand a deed within 90 days after the redemption period ends. The chancery clerk must then certify the land to the Secretary of State within 30 days, and the taxing authority cancels any debt accrued during the redemption period. This applies to lands sold for nonpayment of taxes on or after July 1, 2025. The bill updates procedures for recording such land transfers and ensures the state gains clear title without requiring additional legal action.

Maddy summaryHB 207 extends qualification deadlines for several election offices in Mississippi. It revises the deadline for presidential candidates from 60 to 90 days before an election and changes school board trustee and county education board candidate deadlines from 60-90 days to 90-120 days before an election. The bill also adjusts deadlines for special elections to fill vacancies in county, legislative, congressional, and U.S. Senate offices. These changes apply directly to candidates seeking these specific state offices who must file nomination petitions and affidavits by the new extended dates. The bill amends multiple sections of Mississippi Code to implement these timing adjustments.

Maddy summaryHB 1656, the STRONG Act, would provide tax benefits and health care support for Mississippi National Guard members and their families. It increases income tax exemptions for Guard and Reserve members, creates a $250 annual credit against motor vehicle taxes for service members and their spouses, and establishes a program to reimburse National Guard members for Tricare Reserve Select health insurance premiums. The Adjutant General would administer the program and report its progress to the legislature. The bill passed the legislature in February 2025 but died on calendar before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1255 increases the homestead property tax exemption for Mississippi homeowners aged 65 or older. Starting January 1, 2026, qualifying seniors will receive an exemption covering up to $12,500 of their home's assessed value (up from the current $7,500 limit for this group). This applies to primary residences (homestead property) and reduces property taxes levied for both school districts and county general funds. The change affects Mississippi residents aged 65+ who own and occupy their primary home as of the tax year.

Maddy summaryHB 940 automatically expunges certain felony convictions from public records five years after completing all sentence terms (including fines and probation), restoring voting rights for eligible individuals. It directly affects Mississippi residents convicted of specific non-excluded felonies who have fully satisfied their sentences. Key provisions require circuit clerks to notify the Mississippi Department of Public Safety of expungement orders, which must remove the person's criminal history from state databases within 45 days. The bill excludes violent crimes, drug trafficking, firearm offenses, sex offender violations, and other serious offenses from automatic expungement.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending Mississippi's constitution to grant voters the right to directly propose new laws or amend/repeal existing laws through a formal initiative process. To qualify, a petition must gather signatures from at least 12% of registered voters (with district limits), and initiatives cannot cover constitutional changes, retirement systems, local laws, abortion, or state funding. Approved initiatives would appear on ballots with fiscal analyses, requiring majority approval (60% for revenue-related measures), and could be amended by the legislature before voting. The proposal directly affects how Mississippi residents can influence state law, bypassing the legislature for certain policy changes.