Rep. Donnie Scoggin

Maddy summaryHB 1855 extends the expiration date for a 3% hotel and motel tax in Laurel, Mississippi, from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036. The tax applies to room rentals at hotels, motels, and similar accommodations (including Airbnb) within Laurel, with proceeds collected by the state and paid to the city. Funds must be used exclusively for tourism promotion - such as marketing, facility improvements, and public safety - held in a dedicated special account, not general city funds. The bill requires a voter referendum before implementation and mandates annual audits to ensure proper use of the revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores voting rights to Charles Kenneth Landrum, a resident of Jones County, Mississippi, who was previously disqualified from voting due to a conviction for uttering forgery. The legislation states that Landrum completed his prison sentence in 2010 and has since lived as a law-abiding citizen. Once enacted, the act immediately reinstates his eligibility to vote in Mississippi elections. This measure applies only to this specific individual and does not change broader voting laws or affect other citizens.

Maddy summaryHB 1935 allocates over $5.49 billion in state funds to support Mississippi's public K-12 education system for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It directs specific funding to the State Department of Education for general operations, vocational training, the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, and targeted programs like early learning initiatives, literacy efforts, and the Mississippi Eye Screening Program. The bill also includes restrictions limiting how much can be spent on personnel expenses for certain positions. This funding directly affects public schools, students, and educational programs across Mississippi.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.477 billion from state funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Transportation's (MDOT) administrative costs and program expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It allocates specific amounts for key areas: $1.02 billion for construction, $274 million for maintenance, $64.9 million for administration, $81.6 million for debt service, and $37.5 million for aeronautics/rails. The funds are restricted to authorized uses, including strict limits on salary expenses and prohibitions against using general funds to replace federal funding. This is a routine funding measure, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1936 appropriates $4,713,259 from the State General Fund and $8,419,652 from special funds to cover the operational costs of the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television (MAET) for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill specifically restricts $6,548,722 of these funds for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits), limiting MAET to 80 permanent and 7 time-limited staff positions while prohibiting the use of these funds for promotions or salary increases without additional approvals. It requires MAET to prioritize maintaining its current educational broadcasting schedule over producing new content and mandates strict adherence to state personnel budget rules, including using "Vacancy Funding" solely to fill unfilled positions from the prior year. The funds cannot replace federal or other special funds used for salaries.

Maddy summaryHB 1934 appropriates $1,686,731 from the State General Fund and $2,699,838 from special funds to cover the Mississippi Arts Commission's expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill specifies that $1,168,500 of these funds must be used exclusively for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits) for 13 authorized positions (11 permanent, 2 time-limited), with strict limits on exceeding the appropriation or using funds for promotions. It requires compliance with Mississippi's Variable Compensation Plan and mandates that the Commission maintain detailed accounting records for all expenditures. This is a routine funding bill, not a policy change, directly affecting the Arts Commission's budget operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1937 appropriates $11,456,706 from general funds and $4,888,390 from special funds to support the Mississippi Library Commission for fiscal year 2027. The bill specifically allocates $3,475,228 for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits) to cover 49 authorized positions (48 permanent and 1 time-limited), with strict limits preventing salary increases or headcount expansions without new funding. It requires the Library Commission to use these funds solely for employee compensation, prohibits using general funds to replace withdrawn federal or special funds, and mandates quarterly payments of Personnel Incentive Grants to public library systems. This funding directly affects the Library Commission's operations and public libraries receiving incentive grants.

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 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 summaryThis bill allows Mississippi Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau officers to retain their issued sidearm upon retirement, instead of returning it to the agency. It amends Section 45-9-133 of Mississippi law to explicitly permit these officers to keep one firearm as personal property when retiring under the Public Employees' Retirement System. The policy change directly affects current and future retirement of officers employed by the Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.