Rep. Trey Lamar

Maddy summaryHB 1468 would have required Mississippi state agencies owning or managing agricultural land to hire accredited farm managers. These managers would provide professional services like financial analysis, crop production planning, and soil conservation to optimize land value, working alongside agency staff. The bill applied specifically to agencies managing agricultural properties and required them to solicit proposals for these roles by July 1, 2025. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1243 extends the Mississippi Development Authority's deadline for allocating tax credits on qualified equity investments to July 1, 2029. These tax credits reduce income tax and insurance premium payments for investors who fund low-income community projects in Mississippi through qualified community development entities. The bill does not change credit rates, eligibility rules, or the $15 million annual allocation limit for the program. It ensures the existing tax credit framework remains operational for an additional period without altering the program's core structure.

Maddy summaryHB 1240 increases Mississippi's annual cap on tax credits for qualified equity investments in community development entities and extends the deadline for the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to allocate these credits. It directly affects investors who fund Mississippi-based community development projects, allowing them to claim tax credits against specific state taxes (income tax and insurance premium tax) for up to seven years. The bill raises the maximum annual credit allocation limit (currently $20 million) and extends the MDA's deadline for issuing credits until July 1, 2029. This change aims to support continued investment in low-income community development projects by making tax credit opportunities more accessible for longer.

Maddy summaryHB 1087 would amend Mississippi law to authorize county boards of supervisors to donate funds to designated communities participating in the Mississippi Main Street Association program. This new provision would be added to the existing list of allowable county expenditures, which currently includes items like Confederate graves maintenance and public library support. The bill directly affects county governments (as funders) and local Main Street program communities (as recipients). The legislation died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 921, the MS ROSS Act, would have created a state-funded program to help Mississippi public and accredited private elementary and secondary schools hire School Resource Officers (SROs). The Mississippi Department of Public Safety would have covered increasing percentages of SRO costs (starting at 30% in 2025-2026 and rising to 70% by 2029-2030), with local law enforcement and school boards responsible for the remaining portion, up to a $55,000 annual cap per SRO. Schools and local agencies would have needed to jointly apply for funding and establish agreements to participate. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, was never enacted into law.

Maddy summaryHB 1241 modifies Mississippi's tourism incentive program by raising minimum investment requirements for certain projects seeking tax incentives and extending the application deadline. It increases the minimum private investment for hotels from $25 million to $50 million (with higher per-room costs), raises requirements for other projects like full-service hotels and cultural retail attractions, and extends the deadline for submitting applications to the Mississippi Development Authority. These changes directly affect tourism developers seeking incentive payments from the Tourism Project Sales Tax Incentive Fund. The bill does not alter the program's eligibility criteria for project types but sets higher financial thresholds for participation. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025.)

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Mississippi's Commissioner of Insurance to establish and operate a state health insurance exchange to help residents access affordable coverage. It creates a dedicated trust fund financed by a fee of up to 3.5% on insurance premiums sold on the exchange to cover the costs of running the program. The legislation also allows the state to use federal funds for the exchange and directs the existing health risk pool to build an online tool that helps consumers compare health plans, providers, and drug prices. Additionally, the bill amends state code to define key terms and clarify how the exchange will function within Mississippi's insurance system.

Maddy summaryHB 1988, known as the Children's Promise Act, was introduced to increase the total amount of tax credits available to Mississippi taxpayers who donate to specific charitable organizations focused on child welfare. The bill would allow businesses and property owners to claim credits against their state income and property taxes for contributions made to groups that provide services to children in foster care, those at risk of entering foster care, or those with disabilities. A key provision in the bill was to let taxpayers who applied for credits in January 2024 receive priority if the total funding limit was reached, and it also allowed credits earned in one year to be used against taxes owed for the previous year. Although the bill included language to update various other tax credit sections, it ultimately did not become law after failing its conference report in May 2024.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill updates state tax laws to officially include heated tobacco products under the existing definition of "tobacco." By amending the state code, the legislation ensures that these newer vaping devices are subject to the same excise tax rates as traditional cigarettes and other tobacco items. The law directly affects manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers by requiring them to collect and remit taxes on heated tobacco products sold within the state. This change clarifies how the state classifies and taxes emerging tobacco products to maintain consistency with current tax regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a tax credit for Mississippi taxpayers who invest in qualified community development entities that focus on low-income businesses within the state. The credit allows individuals and entities to reduce their income and insurance premium taxes by a percentage of their investment, with a total annual limit of $20 million managed by the Mississippi Development Authority. To qualify, the invested funds must be used primarily to support businesses operating in Mississippi, and the law includes specific rules for recapturing the credit if certain conditions are not met. Additionally, the legislation authorizes public entities to create special corporations to facilitate these financing arrangements and transfer public property for development projects.