Rep. Omeria Scott

Maddy summaryHB 44 appropriates $11.16 million from general funds and $4.86 million from special funds to support the Mississippi Library Commission for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It specifically restricts $3.48 million of these funds for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits), prohibiting transfers to other categories and requiring compliance with state salary caps. The bill also mandates at least $1.35 million be spent on the Magnolia Database and requires detailed accounting for all funds, including quarterly payments to public libraries under the Personnel Incentive Grants Program. This directly affects the Library Commission’s operations, staff compensation, and public library funding.

Maddy summaryHB 25 appropriates $5,308,814 from special funds to the Mississippi Board of Nursing for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It directly funds the board’s operations, including $2.9 million for staff salaries and positions, $1.56 million for the Office of Nursing Workforce (administering nursing education programs), and $105,000 for the Prescription Monitoring Program. The bill specifies that funds must be used for authorized personnel costs and cannot replace federal funding, with strict rules to prevent exceeding budgeted amounts for salaries. It requires the board to maintain detailed financial records and aligns with existing programs like the Medical Cannabis Act implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.8 million from state funds to cover the Mississippi Real Estate Commission's operating expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It specifically allocates $1.1 million for "Personal Services" (employee salaries, wages, and benefits), with strict rules preventing use for promotions, title changes, or exceeding salary caps set by the State Personnel Board. The Commission must maintain detailed records of all spending and cannot increase headcount or salaries without new legislative funding. This funding directly affects the Commission's staff and budget management for licensing and regulatory activities.

Maddy summaryHB 26 appropriates $256,272 from state special funds to cover the operating costs of Mississippi's State Board of Optometry for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill requires the Board to maintain detailed financial records matching its 2025 reporting standards and mandates that funds be spent strictly within the allocated amount, per state budget laws. This procedural funding measure directly supports the Board's administrative operations but does not change optometry licensing rules or create new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 27 appropriates $354,726 from state funds to cover the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy’s operating expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill specifically allocates $221,771 for "Personal Services" (employee salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding), with strict rules prohibiting use for promotions, salary increases, or replacing federal funds. It requires the Board to maintain detailed financial records and ensures funds are used only within the authorized budget limits, including compliance with state personnel compensation rules.

Maddy summaryHB 18 appropriates $1.76 million in state funds for the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to cover its operating expenses during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill specifically allocates $983,084 for "Personal Services" (employee salaries, benefits, and filling open positions), with strict rules: funds cannot be used for promotions or salary increases, must follow the state’s Variable Compensation Plan, and require prior approval for any new staffing. It also mandates that the Board cannot issue wigology licenses (only cosmetology/barbering licenses) and allows existing wig specialists to continue practicing under prior rules. The funding must be used efficiently to meet specific performance targets, such as processing 3,120 cosmetology exams and issuing licenses within 14 days.

Maddy summaryHB 24 appropriates $4,657,022 from state special funds to cover the operating costs of Mississippi's State Board of Medical Licensure for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill specifically allocates $2,958,098 for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits for employees), with strict limits on headcount (32 permanent positions) and prohibitions against using these funds for promotions or salary increases beyond established rates. It requires the board to meet performance targets like 100% online license renewals and resolving 90% of complaints within seven days, while mandating detailed financial reporting to the legislature. The funds cannot replace withdrawn federal funds or violate IRS reporting rules for contract employees.

Maddy summaryHB 4009 restores Jerome Wyatt’s voting rights in Jones County, Mississippi, after he lost them due to a 2020 embezzlement conviction. The bill states Wyatt completed his probation in 2023 and has since been a law-abiding citizen. This is a direct restoration of voting rights with no broader policy changes or mechanisms beyond this individual case. The bill died in committee in April 2025 but would have immediately reinstated his eligibility to vote.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HC 69) suspends standard legislative deadlines to allow time for drafting and advancing a separate bill. The target bill would remove the Rankin County Sheriff's authority to operate a pilot work release program for nonviolent inmates confined in jail. The resolution itself does not change any law but facilitates the process for the underlying bill, which died in committee on April 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1740 appropriates $1,459,164 for the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering's fiscal year 2026 expenses. The bill authorizes 17 permanent positions and strictly limits fund use to new hires (not salary increases for current staff), requiring the agency to adhere to specific performance targets like conducting 6,000 annual inspections and processing 3,120 cosmetology examinations. It also mandates the board not issue new wigology licenses while allowing existing wig specialists to continue practicing under prior rules. This is a funding authorization bill, not a policy change, with no direct impact on the public beyond the board's operational budget.