Rep. Omeria Scott

Maddy summaryHB 1916 provides $256,272 in state funding from special funds to cover the State Board of Optometry's operating expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). The bill requires the Board to maintain detailed financial records matching 2026 standards and directs that Mississippi Industries for the Blind receive procurement preference for goods/services when bids are equal. It also mandates compliance with existing budget laws limiting agency spending to approved amounts. This is a procedural funding measure with no policy changes to optometry practice or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1380 (Mississippi House Bill 1380) adjusts homestead exemption rules for surviving spouses and applicants. It states that if a deceased spouse qualified for a higher exemption due to age or disability but the surviving spouse’s status is unknown and no new application was filed, the surviving spouse will automatically be moved to the primary applicant status with the lowest exemption tier. The bill also allows homeowners who filed timely applications but didn’t disclose eligibility for additional exemptions to submit amended applications for review by tax authorities. This directly affects Mississippi homeowners, particularly surviving spouses and those needing to update exemption status without reapplying annually.

Maddy summaryMississippi's HB 1922 appropriates $330,629 from state special funds to cover the operating expenses of the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The funds specifically cover salaries, wages, and benefits for three permanent staff positions, with $203,629 designated exclusively for "Personal Services" (no promotions or salary increases for current staff). The bill requires the board to maintain detailed financial records matching its FY2026 reporting and prohibits using these funds for federal replacement or to exceed the approved budget. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, directly affecting the board's budget and staffing for licensing oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 1920 appropriates $1,950,524 from the Real Estate License Fund to cover the Mississippi Real Estate Commission's operating expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill specifies that $1,229,744 of this amount must be used exclusively for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits) for up to 16 permanent staff positions, with strict rules prohibiting use for promotions, title changes, or salary increases beyond approved headcounts. It requires the Commission to maintain detailed financial records matching FY2026 standards and mandates that any FY2028 budget request follow the same reporting format. This is a funding bill with no policy changes, solely allocating existing resources for the Commission's personnel costs.

Maddy summaryHB 4014 amends Mississippi's income tax code to exclude name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation from taxable "gross income." This directly affects Mississippi college athletes who receive NIL payments for endorsements or promotions. The bill achieves this by adding NIL compensation to the list of exempt items under Section 27-7-15(4) of the tax code. The change means these payments will no longer be subject to state income tax in Mississippi, providing a concrete tax benefit for affected athletes.

Maddy summaryHB 223 designates a one-mile segment of Mississippi Highway 537 in Jones County (from Lake Como Road to Doris Tanner's Flowers) as the "Sgt. John Howard Tanner Memorial Highway" to commemorate Sergeant John Howard Tanner. The bill requires the Mississippi Department of Transportation to install and maintain appropriate signage along this highway segment. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or direct impact on regulations, taxes, or services. It solely honors an individual through a highway naming designation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurance plans from requiring patients with advanced, metastatic cancer to try other medications first (step therapy) before covering FDA-approved treatments for their condition. It applies specifically to drugs that align with clinical guidelines and evidence-based medicine, directly affecting patients diagnosed with cancer that has spread and their healthcare providers. The law establishes a process for doctors to request immediate coverage overrides if step therapy delays care, requiring insurers to approve such requests based on medical evidence within 30 days (extendable by 7 days). It ensures faster access to critical treatments without unnecessary delays for patients with advanced cancer.

Maddy summaryHB 565, known as "Jill's Law," requires all health insurance plans in Mississippi - including Medicaid and the State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan - to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of diseases when supported by medical evidence. This includes tests backed by FDA approvals, clinical guidelines, or consensus statements, effective for plans renewed or entered after July 1, 2026. Plans must provide clear written justifications for denied claims, update coverage policies publicly within 60 days of enactment, and allow appeals for coverage disputes. The law applies to all health benefit plans and aims to ensure timely access to evidence-based testing without requiring multiple biopsies.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 designates a one-mile segment of Mississippi Highway 537 in Yazoo County as the "Colonel Donnell Berry Memorial Highway" to honor Colonel Donnell Berry. The Mississippi Department of Transportation will install and maintain signage along this highway segment. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026. This is a commemorative designation with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1520 authorizes Mississippi's Department of Archives and History to donate and transfer ownership of the Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty property to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI). The 28.3-acre property, historically significant to the MBCI, is described in the bill as being located in Noxubee County. The transfer would formally transfer title from the state to the tribe, with the bill taking effect on July 1, 2026. This is a procedural land transfer bill, not a new policy.