Rep. Trey Lamar

Maddy summaryHB 1523 creates a grant program to help Mississippi farmers purchase new tractors, parts, maintenance/repair labor, and farm implements (taxed at 1.5% sales tax). The Department of Finance and Administration will administer the program using funds from a portion of sales tax revenue on eligible farm equipment. Farmers can apply for grants up to $50,000 annually but cannot receive grants in consecutive years. Applicants must provide proof of farming status (e.g., federal Schedule F) and details about their equipment needs.

Maddy summaryHB 724 requires Mississippi insurance agents aged 65 or older with 25 or more continuous years of licensing to submit a one-time sworn statement verifying their qualifications for exemption from continuing education requirements. Once submitted, these agents will not need to resubmit the statement for future license renewals if they maintain uninterrupted licensing. The bill mandates the Insurance Commissioner to maintain a database of all agents who have submitted qualifying statements. This change simplifies renewal processes for qualifying senior agents while maintaining oversight of exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 1397 requires Mississippi's Tort Claims Board to create a publicly accessible online registry by July 1, 2026, listing all governmental entities needing liability coverage under state law along with the contact details (name, email, address) of their Chief Executive Officer. This registry directly affects all local and state government entities covered by the Tort Claims Act. The bill's key mechanism prevents claims from being dismissed due to outdated contact information by tolling (pausing) the one-year statute of limitations until the registry is updated correctly. This amendment to Sections 11-46-20 and 11-46-11 of the Mississippi Code ensures claimants can properly file notices of claim against governmental entities.

Maddy summaryHB 4043 imposes a 50% tax on the increased cost to cigarette wholesalers or retailers under Mississippi's Unfair Cigarette Sales Law. It directly affects businesses selling cigarettes at wholesale or retail by adding this tax to the portion of costs that would have increased due to phased-in cost adjustments. The tax applies to the sum of these cost increases as if fully implemented by July 1, 2026, and all collected revenue must be deposited into Mississippi's General Fund. This is a concrete tax mechanism targeting cigarette sellers' cost structures, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Maddy summaryHB 4045 revises Mississippi's economic development incentives by ending the income tax exemption for data center projects after 2026 and requiring that for projects with over $2 billion in capital investment (entering fee-in-lieu agreements after July 2026), a portion of the fee must be deposited into the new Mississippi Strategic Development Fund. The bill updates definitions of qualifying projects under the Major Economic Impact Act and adjusts how nuclear facility payments are distributed to counties and municipalities. These changes primarily affect large businesses seeking tax incentives for major capital investments, with the new fund intended to support strategic economic development initiatives. The Mississippi Development Authority will manage the fund for specified purposes upon legislative appropriation.

Maddy summaryHB 1301 allocates $250,000 from Mississippi's State General Fund to the State Fire Academy to cover costs for the Mississippi Search and Rescue Program. The funding specifically supports search and rescue training, course development, and response operations under the program established by a prior 2026 bill. This appropriation is designated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027. The bill directly affects the State Fire Academy and the state's search and rescue operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1304 allocates $100,000 from the state general fund to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources for the Mississippi Search and Rescue Program. The funding covers equipment acquisition, maintenance, and training costs associated with the program, which was established by a prior legislative act. This appropriation is effective for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027. The bill directly affects the state agency responsible for managing the search and rescue program's operational expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 1300 allocates $1.525 million from Mississippi's State General Fund to the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security for the state's Search and Rescue Program during fiscal year 2027. The funds directly support urban search and rescue teams, including equipment maintenance, repairs, and training for three regional task forces and a Type I team. This is a funding measure with no new policy changes, solely providing budgetary support for existing search and rescue operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1303 allocates $100,000 from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) for the Mississippi Search and Rescue Program. The funding covers costs related to equipment acquisition, maintenance, and training for the program during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This is a routine appropriation bill that provides financial support for an existing state program, not a new policy or law. The funds will be disbursed by the State Treasurer upon proper requisitions.

Maddy summaryHB 1302 appropriates $100,000 from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol's Special Operations Team for the Mississippi Search and Rescue Program. The funds specifically cover equipment acquisition, maintenance, and training costs associated with the program, which was established by a prior 2026 legislative bill. This appropriation is designated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027. The bill directly affects the Highway Safety Patrol's Special Operations Team and the statewide search and rescue program it supports.