Maddy summaryHB 698, the "First Responders Income Tax Elimination Act," would have excluded specific compensation from Mississippi's state income tax for certain public safety workers. It directly affects certified law enforcement officers, full-time and volunteer firefighters (with state certification), emergency medical technicians, county medical examiners, and directors/managers of local emergency management organizations. The bill's key mechanism amends tax code section 27-7-15 to add these roles' compensation to the list of tax-exempt income, excluding it from gross income calculations. Volunteer firefighters must have been certified and registered with the state during the prior tax year to qualify. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 697, the "First Responders Income Tax Relief Act," would have excluded specific portions of compensation from Mississippi state income tax for eligible first responders. It targeted certified law enforcement officers, full/part-time state/local firefighters, certified volunteer firefighters, EMTs, county medical examiners, and emergency management directors/managers who met state certification requirements during the prior tax year. The bill amended Mississippi’s tax code to add these categories to the list of income exempt from taxation. However, the bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 696 authorizes Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) certified by Mississippi's State Department of Health and assigned to law enforcement Special Response Teams (SRT) or SWAT teams to perform specific advanced medical procedures. These EMTs must have completed specialized Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) or Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training. The bill permits them to conduct airway management (using devices like nasal cannulas or bag-valve masks), chest needle decompression for trauma, and IV access under medical control - similar to paramedic-level care but limited to tactical team settings. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.
Maddy summaryHB 680 would have raised Mississippi's threshold for requiring competitive bidding on public purchases from $5,000 to $15,000. This change would allow state agencies, counties, schools, and local governments to make purchases under $15,000 without competitive bids, though they could still choose to use them. For purchases between $15,000 and $75,000, the bill required at least two competitive written bids but permitted accepting the lowest bid without public advertising. Purchases over $75,000 would still require standard competitive bidding with newspaper notices and reverse auctions as the primary method.
Maddy summaryHB 1080, "The Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act," would have required government entities to obtain parental consent for medical procedures, examinations, medications, or mental health services for children under 18, with exceptions for emergencies, abuse concerns, or prior blanket consent. It would have prohibited state or local governments from substantially interfering with a parent's right to direct their child's upbringing, education, health care, or mental health decisions without demonstrating a compelling government interest and using the least restrictive means. The bill explicitly stated it does not permit child abuse, neglect, or end-of-life decisions, and clarified that abortions remain governed by existing state law. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.
Maddy summaryHB 695 prohibits foreign nationals (non-citizens not lawfully residing in the U.S.) from contributing money or making expenditures related to Mississippi state or local ballot measures. The bill defines "foreign national" using federal standards but excludes U.S. citizens. It also bans anyone from soliciting, accepting, or receiving such contributions from foreign nationals. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and never became law.
Maddy summaryHB 677 amends Mississippi law to clarify that bail bondsmen may provide general legal advice or opinions, but such guidance becomes unlawful only if it crosses into "practicing law without a license" under Section 73-3-55. The bill directly affects licensed bail bondsmen in Mississippi by revising Section 83-39-27, which previously prohibited bondsmen from giving "legal advice or a legal opinion" without qualification. The key change specifies that mere advice is permitted, but actions resembling unlicensed legal practice (e.g., drafting legal documents or representing clients) remain prohibited. This is a procedural amendment to existing licensing rules, not a new policy. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and has not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 730 would require termination from Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) for state employees convicted of a felony related to their job after July 1, 2025. It affects current and future PERS members who commit such felonies, ensuring they lose retirement benefits upon conviction. Key provisions include: continuing retirement payments until conviction (if retired before trial), refunding accumulated contributions without interest, and allowing continued health insurance coverage under retired employee terms. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and is not law.
Maddy summaryHB 681 (proposed in Mississippi) requires dental and medical practices to offer patients their records after the legally required retention period ends (10 years for most dental records, 3 years for certain imaging). If a patient declines to take their records, the practice must obtain their written or electronic signature confirming the decision. The bill applies directly to healthcare providers who manage patient records and affects all patients seeking their own medical or dental history. It does not change retention periods but mandates a specific process for transferring records when they become eligible for disposal.
Maddy summaryHB 694 requires business owners in Mississippi to maintain public restrooms in a clean and sanitary condition while their business is open. It directly affects restaurants, stores, and other businesses with public restrooms, mandating regular upkeep. The Mississippi State Department of Health can inspect restrooms upon complaint and order corrective actions if violations are found. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, would have taken effect July 1, 2025, if passed.