Rep. Trey Lamar

Maddy summaryHB 1078 creates a new crime for misappropriating funds meant to pay utility bills, directly affecting landlords, property managers, and businesses handling tenant utility payments. It prohibits failing to pay utility bills within 60 days of receiving funds or using deception to avoid payment, with penalties escalating based on the amount misused: $1,000-$5,000 (up to 5 years jail/fine), $5,000-$25,000 (up to 10 years), and $25,000+ (up to 20 years). The law requires offenders to pay full restitution to affected parties and excludes cases where tenants didn’t pay or utility companies made errors. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1676 adds a $3,000,000 allocation from the Capital Expense Fund to the 2024 Local Improvements Projects Fund for the Port of Pascagoula's North Rail Connector Project. This bill specifically directs funds to support infrastructure improvements across 20+ Mississippi jurisdictions, including city street paving, courthouse repairs, fire department equipment, hospital facilities, and airport upgrades. The funds will be disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration per existing appropriation authority. Direct beneficiaries include cities like Columbus, Greenwood, and Kosciusko; counties including Bolivar, Lee, and Webster; and entities like the Port of Pascagoula and local fire departments. The bill does not create new programs but allocates existing state funds to pre-identified local projects.

Maddy summaryHB 309, the "No Patient Left Alone Act," would require Mississippi health care facilities to allow minor patients to have a parent/guardian present and adult patients to designate a spouse, family member, or caregiver for in-person visits during care. Facilities could restrict visits only for medical reasons, safety concerns, disruptive behavior, or policy violations, but could not require patients to waive these rights or terminate them during emergencies. The bill mandates facilities to post Department of Health-developed informational materials online and authorizes fines up to $10,000 per day for violations. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 718 would require Mississippi tax collectors to send any extra property taxes collected due to a denied homestead exemption (because a homeowner or spouse didn't pay income tax) directly to the state Department of Revenue. This amount would then be applied toward the homeowner's unpaid income tax debt, up to the amount of that debt. The bill specifically targets homeowners who lost homestead exemption eligibility due to noncompliance with income tax laws. It does not change property tax collection rules but redirects funds from property taxes to cover income tax obligations. (Note: The bill died in committee and is not law.)

Maddy summaryHB 866 allows businesses (hiring parties) to contribute funds to portable benefit accounts for independent contractors, enabling contractors to access benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, or life insurance. Businesses may set aside a portion of payment via a written agreement that both parties voluntarily agree to in writing, with contractors able to opt out at any time. The bill explicitly states these contributions cannot be used to reclassify workers as employees or affect liability under Mississippi’s Workers’ Compensation Law. This policy change directly impacts independent contractors and hiring businesses in Mississippi, providing a structured way to support benefits without altering employment status.

Maddy summaryHB 1285, the MS ROSS Act, creates a state-funded program to help cover costs for school resource officers (SROs) in Mississippi schools. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety will pay an increasing percentage of SRO salaries (starting at 30% for 2026-2027, rising to 70% by 2030-2031), up to $55,000 per officer per school, with local law enforcement and school boards covering the remainder. The program applies to all public schools and eligible accredited private schools, requiring joint applications from local law enforcement and school governing bodies to access funds. It mandates a formal agreement between schools and law enforcement to ensure SROs focus on safety and community policing efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 1384 allows trustees of revocable trusts to settle assets for non-resident decedents who owned Mississippi real property without full probate court proceedings. Specifically, it permits trustees to publish a notice in a local newspaper (in the county where the property is located) and file an affidavit with the chancery clerk as proof. This notice process bars creditors from claiming against the trust assets if they don’t submit claims within 90 days, making it legally equivalent to a court-approved probate settlement. The bill directly affects trustees, creditors, and beneficiaries handling estates of non-resident decedents with Mississippi real property.

Maddy summaryHB 1379, titled the "Mississippi Pediatric Access to Critical Health Care Protection Act," would authorize Mississippi Medicaid to make payments to a specific type of out-of-state pediatric hospital located on the Mississippi River border. The hospital must be university-affiliated, provide pediatric care exclusively for patients under 21 (with five specialty programs and 100+ beds), and qualify under federal CMS approval for increased funding. Payments would only occur if CMS approves a federal funding increase equal to the hospital's estimated annual cost, ensuring costs for Mississippi Medicaid beneficiaries under 21 do not exceed in-state hospital costs. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1398, the "Mississippi Mass Casualty Threats Prevention Act," creates two new criminal offenses: "capital mass casualty threat" (for causing death or injury in a crowd during a mass casualty act) and "mass casualty threat" (for attempting such acts). It defines "mass casualty acts" as shooting firearms, using explosives, or driving vehicles into crowds with intent to harm, and mandates the death penalty via firing squad for the capital offense. The bill also amends Mississippi's murder statutes to include these offenses, requiring life imprisonment or the death penalty for convictions. However, the bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1382 revises Mississippi towing laws to require companies to notify vehicle owners and lienholders (people with financial claims on the vehicle) via certified mail within 7 days of towing, using approved third-party vendors. It updates timelines: if payment isn’t received within 30 days of the initial tow, companies must send a second sale notice, allowing 10 days for redemption before selling the vehicle at auction. The bill mandates towing companies make good-faith efforts to locate owners and use department-approved formats for all notifications. These changes aim to standardize communication and improve transparency in the vehicle repossession process.