Maddy summaryHB 194 would require Mississippi's State Department of Education, in partnership with higher education and human services agencies, to create the "African-American Male Success Academy" for public school students in kindergarten through grade 8. The program would be a one-semester course using culturally responsive teaching to help educators recognize and support the social and academic needs of young African-American male students. Key provisions include mandatory components like social studies lessons affirming African-American history, literature, interactions with community authority figures (including law enforcement), mental health resources, and activities to build racial pride and academic identity. Students would complete tasks designed to overcome barriers to achievement and develop a "scholar identity," with the program set to begin in the 2026-2027 school year.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 84 requires public school districts rated "C" under Mississippi's accountability system to provide online remedial courses for all enrolled students. The bill mandates courses covering vocabulary, math, geography, science, and other grade-appropriate subjects, with separate grading on report cards. It directs the state to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to hire a virtual instruction provider to manage the courses, track student progress, and report individual academic weaknesses to counselors and parents. The bill, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.
Maddy summaryHB 37 amends Mississippi election law to require county or municipal executive committees (not resolution boards) to review and process damaged, defective, blank, or overvoted absentee ballots in primary elections. The bill specifies that these committees must verify voter intent for ambiguous ballots, create duplicates for counting, and follow detailed procedures for handling rejected ballots. It directly affects local election officials managing primary elections by changing the entity responsible for ballot review. The bill focuses on procedural improvements to ensure consistent handling of absentee ballots that cannot be processed by voting machines.
Maddy summaryHB 32 requires Mississippi state agencies to publish detailed specifications for reverse auctions on their websites for 30 days before the auction and in a local newspaper for three consecutive weeks. This applies to state purchases over $75,000, making reverse auctions the primary method for obtaining bids on such contracts. Agencies must seek approval from the Public Procurement Review Board if they choose not to use reverse auctions, and they cannot use them for public construction or school purchases of educational materials. The bill directly affects state agencies conducting procurements above $75,000 and vendors bidding on these contracts.
Maddy summaryHB 190 establishes a four-year pilot program in three Mississippi school districts with high teen pregnancy and school violence rates, requiring each school to employ at least one professional school counselor. The program, starting in 2026-2027, mandates annual evaluations by state education, health, and human services departments to assess impacts on teen pregnancy and violence rates, with a final report due in 2031. The bill prohibits counselors from discussing abortion as a pregnancy prevention method and amends existing law to define required counseling services. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and is not currently active.
Maddy summaryHB 45 would require Mississippi public employers to pay a percentage of the compensation paid to contract workers into the state's public employees' retirement system (PERS). This applies only when the contract work involves services typically performed by regular PERS-covered employees, such as roles previously filled by active system members. The contribution rate must match the employer's current rate for regular employees who joined PERS before March 1, 2026. The bill extends retirement system funding to certain contract workers without altering existing contribution rates for regular employees.
Maddy summaryHB 80 increases Mississippi workers' compensation payments for disability or death cases from 66.67% to 100% of the state's average weekly wage. It directly affects injured workers and their dependents by raising benefit rates under disability and death provisions. Key changes include setting compensation at 100% of average weekly wage (capped at 450 weeks total), revising death benefit eligibility, and updating disability payment formulas for permanent/total, temporary, and partial injuries. The bill also modifies specific injury compensation tables (e.g., loss of limbs, vision) to align with the new 100% rate.
Maddy summaryHB 167 proposed creating Mississippi's "ABC Program" to deliver prekindergarten instruction statewide via the internet. It would require daily real-time lessons by licensed teachers (with three scheduled time slots per day), downloadable curriculum-based materials, and a method to track student participation and progress. The State Department of Education would need to report on the program's success to legislative committees by January 2028. The bill, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, never became law and would have affected Mississippi's prekindergarten students and families.
Maddy summaryHB 156 proposes creating Mississippi's "Universal Prekindergarten Program Act of 2026," establishing a publicly funded pre-K program for 4-year-olds not yet enrolled in kindergarten. The bill requires school districts to provide funding for up to 10 hours weekly over 35 weeks annually to eligible children, allowing parents to choose between public school programs in their district, other public schools, or prequalified private providers. It sets quality standards for providers, including teacher qualifications, curriculum requirements aligned with state learning standards, and minimum classroom ratios (1 adult per 10 children), with a statewide tuition rate determined annually. The program would be jointly administered by the State Board of Education and the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development, requiring annual reports to the legislature. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
Maddy summaryHB 186 reconstitutes Mississippi's Healthcare Coordinating Council, requiring it to develop a comprehensive preventive health care plan for the state. The council, made up of 15 appointed members including legislators, health experts, and community representatives, must report to the legislature by 2027 with specific goals like reducing infant mortality by 10% by 2035, increasing health insurance coverage by 25% by 2035, and lowering obesity rates to under 20% by 2030. The bill directly affects all Mississippi residents by setting measurable health objectives for state agencies to address maternal/child health, chronic disease, and access to care. It mandates the council analyze feasibility, costs, and benefits of each proposed strategy before making recommendations.