Rep. Omeria Scott

Maddy summaryHB 43 would allow Mississippi offenders on probation or parole (including intensive supervision) to earn up to 5 days of reduced supervision time per month by participating in faith-based activities. Specifically, offenders could earn 40 hours of participation credit per month (equating to 5 days reduction) through approved faith-based programs. A designated leader from the faith-based organization must submit a monthly report by the 15th of the following month to the Department of Corrections to verify participation. This change would apply to eligible offenders starting July 1, 2026, and would be integrated into the existing earned-discharge program. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 85 revises Mississippi's expungement rules for misdemeanor convictions by reducing the required rehabilitation period from two years to one year. It directly affects first-time misdemeanor offenders (excluding traffic violations) who have completed their sentences and demonstrated good conduct. The bill amends Section 21-23-7 of the Mississippi Code to allow courts to expunge misdemeanor records after one year of rehabilitation, making individuals legally appear as if they were never convicted. This change applies only to cases where the court determines the person's rehabilitation serves society's best interests.

Maddy summaryMississippi's HB 8 allows courts to issue hardship driver's licenses to people whose licenses were suspended for failing to pay child support. To qualify, applicants must prove hardship (like job loss) with documentation and a recommendation from the Mississippi Department of Human Services, and the license is only valid for driving to work or religious services. The bill establishes a $25 fee for the license, sets a four-year term, and prohibits use for commercial vehicles. It modifies existing laws to create this hardship license option while maintaining strict usage limits.

Maddy summaryHB 184 would provide an annual $1,500 salary supplement to assistant teachers in Mississippi school districts rated "C," "D," or "F" under the state's accountability system. This would raise their minimum annual salary from $17,000 to $18,500. The supplement applies specifically to non-licensed assistant teachers working in kindergarten through third grade and continues even if a district later improves its accountability rating. The bill does not change the existing minimum salary requirement for assistant teachers in higher-rated districts.

Maddy summaryHB 187 proposed establishing the "Mississippi Senior Cadets Program," requiring the State Department of Education to create a mentoring initiative targeting high school seniors who would mentor K-8 students in their districts. To participate, seniors must mentor at least five hours weekly, collaborate with teachers twice monthly, and maintain a "C" average or higher. Successful participants would receive scholarship preference, three high school elective credits, and three college credits at public Mississippi institutions. The bill aimed to address low academic performance and high dropout rates but died in committee in February 2026 without becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 38 restores voting rights to Mississippi residents convicted of specific disenfranchising crimes (listed in Section 241 of the state constitution) after they complete their sentence. It automatically reinstates voting rights upon finishing incarceration (including parole) or when sentenced solely to probation, without requiring additional steps. The bill mandates updates to the statewide election system, voter rolls, and pollbooks to remove disqualification markers once rights are restored, and requires election officials to verify restoration status through court-certified sentence details. It directly affects individuals with qualifying convictions who have served their sentences or received probation-only terms.

Maddy summaryHB 188, titled "Volunteer and Parents Incentive Program," actually creates an informational guide called "The Parents' Bill of Rights" for parents of children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in Mississippi schools. It requires the State Department of Education to develop and distribute this guide by January 1, 2027, outlining specific rights such as attending IEP meetings, requesting evaluations, accessing school records, and understanding placement in the least restrictive environment. The guide must be provided to parents when a child qualifies for an IEP and posted online, with content aligned to existing federal and state law. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 44, titled the "Create A Respectful And Open Workplace For Natural (CROWN) Hair Act," prohibits workplace and school policies that discriminate against natural hairstyles like afros, braids, twists, and locs. It bans termination, reduced pay, or expulsion based on hair texture and requires employers and schools to allow natural hairstyles without penalty. The bill amends Mississippi law to include natural hairstyles as a protected characteristic in state discrimination policy, condominium restrictions, and real estate licensing, while providing remedies like back pay and attorney fees for victims of violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a voluntary certification program for birth doulas in Mississippi, administered by the State Department of Health. It requires the Department to set competency standards, fees, and procedures for certification, while creating a dedicated fund to cover program costs. Birth doulas may choose to become certified but are not required to do so to practice; the bill prohibits using the title "state-certified birth doula" without official certification. The program aims to standardize nonmedical support services during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period, without replacing medical care.

Maddy summaryHB 180 creates a program allowing Mississippi assistant teachers with at least five years of classroom experience to have a portion of their salary (equal to the statutory minimum) waived to cover tuition for a bachelor's degree, helping them become licensed teachers. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled full-time at a Mississippi college with two years left to graduate, maintain a 2.5 GPA, pass the Praxis Core exam, and commit to teaching in the state for the duration of the grant. The State Board of Education will administer the program, report annually on teacher vacancies and provisional license hires, and require repayment of grants plus a 5% penalty if recipients fail to teach as agreed. This directly affects eligible assistant teachers and school districts participating in the salary waiver agreements.