Maddy summaryHB 1758 requires Mississippi's Child Protection Services (CPS) to identify foster youth eligible for federal benefits (like Social Security or veterans' benefits) within 60 days of entering care and apply for them. CPS must manage these funds through a savings plan, using them only for unmet needs beyond standard care (not for CPS costs), and create an annual accounting. The bill mandates a "Success Sequence" plan where foster youth access portions of conserved funds upon achieving milestones like high school graduation, job training, or financial literacy completion. Upon turning 18 or emancipation, CPS transfers remaining funds directly to the youth. This directly affects foster youth in Mississippi’s CPS system, ensuring they retain access to earned federal benefits for future independence.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1075 allows Mississippi housing authorities to partner with private developers on affordable housing projects by creating a new "mixed-finance project" category. This combines public funds (state or federal) with private resources like low-income housing tax credits. Housing authorities can now own, operate, or co-manage these projects through partnerships, limited liability companies, or shared liability agreements, while also enabling multiple authorities to collaborate. The bill directly affects housing authorities and private developers, making it easier to develop affordable housing by streamlining public-private financial arrangements.
Maddy summaryHB 1723 defines "artificial intelligence" in Mississippi law as computer systems that make predictions, recommendations, or decisions affecting real or virtual environments, using inputs to perceive, model, and infer options. The bill establishes this definition for future legislative or regulatory use, without creating new rules or affecting specific groups. It will be codified in Mississippi Code Chapter 3, Title 1, effective July 1, 2026. This is a procedural definition bill with no direct policy changes or impacts on individuals or organizations.
Maddy summaryHB 17 creates the Mississippi Childcare Teachers Shortage Task Force to study the state's childcare worker shortage and identify solutions to increase affordable childcare access. The task force, composed of legislators, state agency directors, and community representatives, will examine wage incentives, review other states' approaches, and recommend strategies to support childcare educators. It must submit a final report to key state officials by December 1, 2026, after which the task force will dissolve. The bill does not enact immediate policy changes but establishes a process for future recommendations.
Maddy summaryHB 1225 reorganizes existing Mississippi laws about vehicle yield requirements for emergency and service vehicles, consolidating multiple references into a single, updated section (63-3-809). It requires drivers to yield to stationary emergency vehicles (with flashing lights), recovery vehicles (tow trucks), utility vehicles, sanitation vehicles, and rural mail carriers by changing lanes if safe or reducing speed. The bill updates references and grammar in the law but does not change the existing requirements or penalties (fines up to $250 or $1,000 for violations causing injury or damage). This affects all drivers operating vehicles on Mississippi roadways. The bill is procedural, focusing on code clarity rather than creating new regulations.
Maddy summaryHB 1221 creates the Mississippi Jenna's Law Task Force to study whether coroners should routinely include Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) as a cause of death in autopsies and report such cases to the National SUDEP Registry. The task force, composed of medical examiners, coroners, epilepsy foundation leaders, and health officials, will examine SUDEP incidence, compare state data with national registries, and recommend potential policy changes. It must submit final recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2027, but does not immediately require any changes to autopsy procedures. This bill directly affects coroners, medical examiners, and epilepsy patients' families by initiating a review of how epilepsy-related deaths are documented. The task force will operate without compensation, using state resources to gather data and develop future legislative proposals.
Maddy summaryHB 1035, the Mississippi Future Innovators Act, requires all Mississippi public high school students to earn one credit in a computer science course or a career and technical education (CTE) course with embedded computer science before graduation, starting with the 2029-2030 ninth-grade class. The bill mandates that these courses include instruction on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), covering what AI is, how it works, and its societal impact. Students can fulfill this requirement through either a dedicated computer science course or a CTE course approved by the State Board of Education, without increasing the total number of state-required graduation credits. This policy directly affects all Mississippi public high school students and aims to integrate foundational computer science knowledge into graduation requirements.
Maddy summaryHB 351 designates June 3 as "Bobbie Gentry Day" in Mississippi to honor the singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry, born in Woodland, Mississippi, who gained international fame in the 1960s with hits like "Ode to Billie Joe." The bill amends Mississippi Code Section 3-3-7 to add this day as a commemorative observance, alongside existing days like Elvis Presley Day and Hernando de Soto Day. It specifies that June 3 will be a day of recognition and observation but explicitly states it is not a legal holiday, meaning it does not affect government operations, business closures, or work schedules. The bill has no regulatory or financial impact and serves solely as a symbolic tribute to Gentry's cultural contributions.
Maddy summaryHB 737 allows Mississippi Medicaid providers to repay overpayments through installment plans under specific conditions. It applies to providers who received incorrect Medicaid payments not caused by their fraud or abuse, and who cannot repay immediately or would face substantial financial hardship. The bill requires the Medicaid Division to permit repayment over up to 12 months (or longer per federal rules) after notification, replacing the previous requirement for immediate repayment. This change directly affects healthcare providers like clinics and hospitals that need flexibility to correct billing errors without immediate cash demands. The policy modifies existing repayment procedures without altering Medicaid eligibility or funding levels.
Maddy summaryHB 1572 establishes a Rare Disease Task Force within Mississippi's existing Rare Disease Advisory Council to address barriers in care for patients with rare diseases. The task force will identify gaps in treatment access, evaluate insurance coverage practices (including "alternative funding programs" that may delay care), and recommend evidence-based solutions to ensure equitable access to therapies. It requires the task force to submit annual reports to state officials detailing findings on therapy access, insurance coverage trends, and the impact of alternative funding programs. This bill directly affects patients with rare diseases, their families, healthcare providers, and insurance plans operating in Mississippi by creating a structured process to improve treatment accessibility.