Maddy summaryHB 1601, the Mississippi Parental Responsibility Act of 2026, requires the State Department of Education to create a program aimed at increasing parental involvement in schools, particularly for parents who have historically been less engaged. The program would provide schools with training materials and support to foster parent-school relationships, using evidence-based methods like parent-to-parent mentorship, community partnerships, and workshops on educational equity and school accountability. It mandates that schools address barriers such as lack of training and funding through structured activities, including helping parents understand their rights and how to advocate for their children's education. The bill directs the department to use existing funding for these initiatives and requires public posting of program details, with implementation set to begin July 1, 2026.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1446, the "Robert G. Clark, Jr., Voting Rights Act of Mississippi," would create a Mississippi Voting Rights Commission to prevent voter suppression and protect voting rights. It prohibits political subdivisions (like counties and cities) and state agencies from implementing election policies that disproportionately affect racial, ethnic, or language minority voters, requiring such policies to be reviewed by the Commission before implementation. The bill also mandates protections for limited English proficient voters and voters with disabilities, requires advance notice of election policy changes, and establishes a statewide voting database with universities. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
Maddy summaryHB 19 appropriates $597 million from state funds for Mississippi's Department of Health operations during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates specific sums to critical programs, including $34 million for the Trauma Care System (covering hospitals in Mississippi and select out-of-state partners), $20 million from the Tobacco Control Fund for cancer programs and school nurse initiatives, and $7 million for targeted health disparity and maternal care programs. The bill also sets strict limits on "Personal Services" funding (salaries and benefits) for 2,083 authorized positions. The legislation passed the legislature but was partially vetoed by the governor on June 19, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 22 allocates $13.55 million from general funds and $28.63 million from special funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Insurance’s expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It specifically restricts $11.21 million of these funds to "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for 131 authorized positions), prohibiting their use for promotions or salary increases for current staff. The bill mandates that "Vacancy Funding" ($619,005) can only fill unfilled positions from fiscal year 2025, not raise existing salaries, and requires the department to maintain detailed spending records. This is a routine funding measure affecting the department’s budget execution, not a policy change.
Maddy summaryHB 23 appropriates approximately $8.4 billion in state funds for Mississippi's Medicaid program during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates $906 million from the General Fund, $842 million from the Medical Care Fund, and $6.6 billion from special funds to provide medical assistance to eligible residents and cover administrative costs under Mississippi's Medicaid Law. The bill also sets a strict $61.8 million cap on "Personal Services" funding (salaries, wages, and benefits) for Medicaid staff, requiring the agency to stay within this limit without exceeding previous year's appropriations. This funding directly supports Medicaid recipients and ensures the Division of Medicaid can operate within defined budgetary constraints.
Maddy summaryHB 17 appropriates $136.49 million from general funds and $177.90 million from special funds to the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill specifically allocates $124.89 million for "Personal Services" (covering salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding) to support 1,507 permanent and 412 time-limited staff positions. It strictly prohibits using these funds for salary increases beyond budgeted amounts, requires using vacancy funds only to fill open positions (not for raises), and mandates detailed accounting of all expenditures. This funding directly affects the department’s ability to operate child protection services, including staffing and operational costs, without exceeding the approved budget limits.
Maddy summaryHB 20 appropriates $92.9 million from general funds and $1.578 billion from special funds to the Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS) for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026), covering operational expenses. It restricts spending to authorized duties under state/federal law and mandates strict limits on "Personal Services" funds (covering salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding totaling $113.9 million), requiring DHS to maintain headcount levels and avoid exceeding budgeted amounts for personnel costs. The bill also directs $1 million from DHS special funds to the Department of Health’s Child Care Licensure Program by July 31, 2025. This funding measure directly affects DHS’s ability to operate its programs, including child care services, by allocating specific resources for personnel and agency expenses.
Maddy summaryHB 29 appropriates $33.68 million from general funds and $227.77 million from special funds to cover the Department of Rehabilitation Services' expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It specifically allocates $3.68 million from the Health Care Expendable Fund to match federal funds and support the Independent Living Program, including the State Attendant Care Program. The bill strictly limits $66.12 million in "Personal Services" funds to salaries, wages, and fringe benefits, requiring the department to maintain headcount limits (875 permanent, 201 time-limited) and prohibiting fund transfers to other categories or salary increases without new funding. This directly affects the department’s operations, its employees’ compensation, and the delivery of rehabilitation services to Mississippi residents.
Maddy summaryHB 30 appropriates $305,129 from state special funds to cover the operating costs of Mississippi's Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists for fiscal year 2026. The funds specifically support employee salaries and benefits (totaling $191,115), with strict rules prohibiting use for promotions, title changes, or exceeding salary caps set by state personnel rules. An additional $5,500 is allocated for upgrading the Board's licensing system to a cloud-based platform. This bill directly affects the Board’s operations, ensuring its budget for staff and technology aligns with state fiscal regulations.
Maddy summaryHB 21 appropriates $7,384,650 (including $7,084,650 from general funds and $300,000 from special funds) to cover the State Fire Academy's expenses for fiscal year 2026. The bill specifically restricts $5.3 million to "Personal Services" (employee salaries, wages, and benefits) for 62 authorized positions, requiring compliance with Mississippi's salary rules and preventing funds from being used for promotions or salary increases beyond the appropriation. It mandates training 8,100 students at an average cost of $1,151.60 per student and requires detailed financial reporting to the legislature. The funding directly affects the State Fire Academy's operations and staff compensation.