Rep. Randy Rushing

Maddy summaryHB 1926 appropriates $2,100,968 from the State General Fund and $215,258 from the State Treasury to fund the Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill authorizes nine permanent staff positions to support the office’s work representing individuals sentenced to death in Mississippi. It requires the office to maintain detailed financial records and comply with existing state budget laws governing fund usage. This is a routine funding measure to sustain existing legal services for death penalty cases, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1925 appropriates $117,462 for the Mississippi Auctioneers Commission to cover its operating expenses during fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). The bill requires the commission to maintain detailed financial records matching its FY2026 standards and submit future budget requests in a comparable format. It also mandates that the commission give preference to Mississippi Industries for the Blind when purchasing goods or equipment, both with and without competitive bids. The funds must be spent in compliance with existing state budget laws prohibiting overspending.

Maddy summaryHB 1933 reappropriates unspent funds from prior fiscal years to continue construction and renovation projects at Mississippi state agencies, institutions, and higher education facilities for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). It allocates specific amounts from previously authorized budgets (including $70 million for higher education and $75 million for general state projects) but requires that funds not exceed remaining unspent balances as of June 30, 2026, and cannot change the original purpose of the spending. The bill does not create new funding or policy changes - it simply allows existing, unspent allocations to be reused for ongoing projects.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 designates a one-mile segment of Mississippi Highway 537 in Yazoo County as the "Colonel Donnell Berry Memorial Highway" to honor Colonel Donnell Berry. The Mississippi Department of Transportation will install and maintain signage along this highway segment. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026. This is a commemorative designation with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution honors Clay Garvin, the retired police chief of Decatur, Mississippi, for his 20+ years of service in law enforcement and military. The resolution formally commends Garvin upon his retirement, recognizing his career path from the U.S. Army to various police departments before leading the Decatur Police Department from 2019 until March 2026. The document serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of his professional conduct and community service rather than establishing new laws or policies. Copies of the resolution will be provided to Garvin and local media outlets.

Maddy summaryHB 571 prohibits foreign nationals from contributing money or making expenditures related to Mississippi state or local ballot measures. It directly affects non-U.S. citizens who might attempt to influence voter decisions on ballot initiatives. The bill defines "foreign national" according to U.S. law (excluding U.S. citizens and those lawfully admitted for permanent residence) and makes it unlawful for anyone to solicit, accept, or receive such contributions. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1120 requires the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) to pay the Town of Walnut Grove $569,212.02 for unpaid utility services provided to the Walnut Grove Correctional Facility from January 2017 through February 2024. The bill mandates payment within 365 days of the law's effective date, directly affecting MDOC and the town's municipal utility. If payment isn't made on time, the Commissioner of Corrections' salary will be withheld until the debt is settled. This is a straightforward payment obligation with a specific enforcement mechanism, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryHB 429 appropriates $15 million from the State General Fund for the fiscal year 2027 to fund grants under Mississippi's Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Grant Program. The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) will administer these grants, directly supporting small municipalities and counties with limited populations. The funding is allocated for specific local government projects or services as defined by the existing program under Section 57-1-18 of Mississippi law, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 402 raises Mississippi's threshold for public purchases requiring competitive bidding from $5,000 to $15,000. This change directly affects state agencies, local governments, schools, and community colleges when purchasing goods or services under $15,000. The bill modifies two state code sections to allow these entities to make such purchases without competitive bidding, while maintaining existing requirements for larger purchases ($15,000-$75,000) and above. The key provision is simply increasing the dollar limit for simplified purchasing procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 400 allows Mississippi residents to create legally valid wills using video recordings, directly affecting individuals drafting wills in the state. It requires spoken "nuncupative" wills to be video recorded with specific conditions: the testator must state their name, mental capacity, date, and location at the start and end; the recording must be continuous with clear facial visibility; and a disinterested witness must declare no financial interest. The bill repeals a previous requirement that nuncupative wills be written down later for validity. It takes effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.