Rep. Trey Lamar

Maddy summaryHB 4066 temporarily expands Mississippi’s Qualified Equity Investment Tax Credit program by authorizing additional investments eligible for tax credits. It revises Section 57-105-1 to allow the Mississippi Development Authority to allocate credits for more qualified equity investments held by taxpayers in community development entities that fund low-income community projects across Mississippi. The bill maintains existing credit rates (4% or 8% of the investment amount) but broadens the scope of qualifying investments under the program. This directly affects taxpayers investing in designated community development entities seeking income tax credits against taxes under Sections 27-7-5, 27-15-103, 27-15-109, and 27-15-123.

Maddy summaryHB 4040 creates the "Mississippi Agriculture and Timber Economic Development Fund" to support the state's agriculture and timber industries. It authorizes up to $5 million in state bonds, funded by a 1.5% sales tax on farm tractors, parts, labor for maintenance, and farm implements. The Mississippi Development Authority will administer the fund to recruit economic development, aiming to create new markets and expand access for Mississippi's agricultural and timber products. The bonds must be issued by July 1, 2030, and funds can only be used for these specific purposes after legislative appropriation.

Maddy summaryHB 4033 imposes a 5% tax on the gain from selling agricultural land owned or possessed in majority part (50% or more) by a foreign individual, entity, or government. It directly affects foreign owners of Mississippi farmland who sell their property. The bill also revises how agricultural land value is calculated for property taxes, requiring appraisers to use an income-based method with a 10% capitalization rate and specific moving averages for valuation, excluding government payments and crop insurance.

Maddy summaryHB 1942 allows Mississippi municipalities to issue conduit bonds to fund redevelopment projects, secured by agreements with property owners or developers. These "taxpayer agreements" require property owners to make additional payments (in lieu of or on top of tax increments) to cover bond repayment, without counting as public debt or taxes. The agreements create liens on property that rank equally with property tax liens and last up to 30 years, ensuring bondholders can collect payments without municipal tax obligations. This directly affects local governments seeking to finance redevelopment, property owners in project areas, and bond investors.

Maddy summaryHB 4065 establishes the MS ROSS program to fund school resource officers (SROs) at Mississippi schools. The state (via the Department of Public Safety) covers 75% of the costs for one SRO per school campus (up to $55,000 annually for salary, benefits, training, and equipment), while local law enforcement agencies and school governing bodies cover the remaining 25%. The program applies to all public and eligible private K-12 schools within a law enforcement agency's jurisdiction, requiring joint applications and a formal agreement between schools and law enforcement. It creates a dedicated state fund and authorizes bonds to support these SRO placements, aiming to enhance school safety through community policing partnerships.

Maddy summaryHB 327 provides a tax credit for companies producing scripted or unscripted television content (like series or pilots) in Mississippi. It directly affects production companies that spend at least $4 million in the state, with at least 65% of the project’s running time filmed there, and obtain Mississippi Development Authority certification. The bill offers three key credits: 25% of qualified expenditures (e.g., sets, equipment), 20% on non-resident payroll/fringes (capped at $3 million per employee), and 30% on resident payroll/fringes (also capped). Companies can also claim a 5% credit if 50% of key crew members (directors, producers, cinematographers) are Mississippi residents. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to ten years.

Maddy summaryHB 1386 amends Mississippi law to explicitly allow municipalities to use state use tax funds for repairing, maintaining, or reconstructing sidewalks. This directly affects all Mississippi municipalities receiving infrastructure assistance funds, expanding the eligible uses beyond roads, bridges, and water systems to include sidewalks. The bill modifies Section 27-67-35 to add sidewalks to the list of permitted infrastructure projects under the existing special fund, which is funded by use tax distributions. It does not change the fund's allocation method (equal shares plus population/sales tax-based distribution) or the restrictions on prohibited uses like salaries or administrative costs.

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 summaryHB 1383 requires Mississippi counties and taxing units to send property owners a notice by July 15 each year. The notice must show last year's property tax amount (before exemptions), last year's tax rate, next year's projected tax amount (if the rate stays the same), and the difference between the two. This directly affects homeowners and business property owners who pay ad valorem taxes, providing clearer transparency about tax changes before they take effect. The bill does not change tax rates but mandates specific information to help taxpayers understand potential cost differences.

Maddy summaryHB 1486 changes Mississippi's tax lien collection rules. It sets a 3-year limit for the Department of Revenue to collect on tax liens enrolled on or after July 1, 2026, and requires collection actions to stop by July 1, 2029, for liens existing as of that date. The bill defines "doubtful claims" as tax debts where collection is ineffective, and establishes that such claims can be settled: taxpayers pay 50% of the debt if the lien has been active 3-10 years, or the full amount is waived after 10 years. This directly affects taxpayers with unresolved tax debts and modifies how the state handles old tax liabilities.