Rep. Omeria Scott

Maddy summaryHB 189, the "Mississippi High School Dropout Prevention Act of 2026," requires the State Department of Education to work with school districts having the lowest graduation rates and develop targeted interventions. Key provisions include early support for students failing Algebra I, alternative programs (like dual enrollment), expanded access to advanced courses, and data collection on factors like truancy and student demographics. The bill also restricts students aged 17+ from withdrawing from school without written agreements, documented reasons (e.g., financial hardship or illness), and warnings about reduced future earnings. The bill died in committee and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits municipal executive committee members and primary election officials from campaigning for candidates on municipal primary election ballots. It bans activities like fundraising, endorsements, or making contributions to candidates listed on the primary ballot. Violators face misdemeanor charges and mandatory removal from their election-related positions. The law directly affects local election officials in Mississippi municipalities who serve on executive committees or manage primary elections.

Maddy summaryHB 90 creates a 17-member Children's Advocacy Commission to coordinate Mississippi's child-related services. The commission would map all state and federal funding for children's health, safety, education, and welfare (from birth to age 18), assess program effectiveness, and recommend merging or discontinuing overlapping or inefficient services. It requires all state agencies providing child services to submit annual program lists, which the commission would compile with data from the Stennis Institute and report to the governor and legislature by December 1 each year. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 164 requires Mississippi public school teachers to include specific daily homework (written and reading assignments) and weekly vocabulary/spelling assignments in their classroom lessons. It directly affects all teachers in Mississippi public school districts and their students. The bill mandates that school boards enforce these requirements, with daily assignments covering written and reading tasks, and weekly assignments focusing on vocabulary and spelling. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has not become law. It would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 9 would amend Mississippi law to allow the State Department of Health to issue a certificate of need (state approval) for nursing home bed construction or expansion in Jones County, up to 60 beds, without the usual statewide review process. This specifically affects nursing facilities in Jones County seeking to add or convert beds, bypassing standard Certificate of Need requirements for that location. The bill targets nursing home bed capacity changes under Section 41-7-191 of Mississippi Code, authorizing the state department to approve projects that would otherwise require broader planning review. It does not change general Certificate of Need rules for other areas or facility types.

Maddy summaryHB 185 requires the Mississippi State Department of Education to pay a salary supplement to licensed teachers working in critical shortage subject areas (such as math, science, or special education) at public schools rated "D" or "F" under state accountability standards. This supplement would be paid in addition to base salaries established under existing law, directly benefiting teachers in high-need schools facing recruitment challenges. The bill amends Section 37-19-7 of Mississippi Code to mandate this state-funded supplement for eligible teachers. It does not specify the exact supplement amount but creates a new funding mechanism targeting districts with the lowest performance ratings.

Maddy summaryHB 87 would have changed Mississippi's sentencing rules for repeat drug offenses by revising how prior convictions count toward "second or subsequent" offenses. Specifically, it required that prior drug convictions must have arisen from "separate incidents at different times" (not just long sentences) to count toward enhanced penalties. This would have directly affected individuals convicted of drug-related offenses who had prior separate convictions under Mississippi or federal drug laws. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 174 requires Mississippi's State Board of Education to develop age- and grade-appropriate conflict resolution and peer mediation curricula for all public school districts, to be fully implemented by the 2026-2027 school year. It specifically mandates that "D" and "F" rated failing school districts use these programs under supervision of school resource officers to address violence and bullying. The bill also creates an alternative to suspension or expulsion: students facing disciplinary action may choose community service with youth peer counseling instead, at their discretion. School districts must integrate these conflict resolution methods into their disciplinary plans as a standard approach for handling student behavior. This policy directly affects all Mississippi public school students, particularly those in underperforming districts, by shifting disciplinary focus toward prevention and mediation.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled "Donald J. Trump Voting Rights Restoration Act," would amend Mississippi election laws to suspend voting rights for individuals convicted of specific non-violent crimes - including voter fraud, bribery, theft, arson, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, or bigamy - until they complete all sentencing requirements (including parole but not probation). It affects people convicted of these offenses, excluding murder and rape, by requiring their names to be removed from voter rolls until sentencing is fully satisfied. The bill updates multiple election code sections to enforce this suspension and automatic restoration upon completion of sentencing. The misleading title references Donald J. Trump, but the policy would restrict voting access for certain convicted individuals, not restore rights. (Note: The bill died in committee in 2026.)

Maddy summaryHB 88 amends Mississippi law to expand the crime of "contributing to the delinquency of a minor" by adding two specific offenses: knowingly causing a child to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Law (drug laws) or to participate in gangs or gang-related activities. This targets adults (such as parents or guardians) who facilitate these illegal activities involving minors, making them liable for a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 fine or one year in jail. The bill was introduced in 2026, referred to the Judiciary Committee, and died there on February 3, 2026, without becoming law. It focuses solely on holding adults accountable for enabling minors' involvement in drug offenses or gang activity, not on new penalties for the minors themselves.