Rep. Cedric Burnett

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 561 allows alcohol package retailers in Mississippi to also sell lottery tickets. It directly affects businesses holding a "package retailer's permit" under Mississippi's alcohol laws, enabling them to apply as lottery retailers under the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law. The bill amends eligibility rules to explicitly include these alcohol permit holders as qualified lottery retailers, removing a previous barrier. This change permits these stores to sell lottery tickets alongside their existing alcohol sales, without altering lottery operations or requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 788 modifies Mississippi's election rules to allow voters who are not registered in the jurisdiction they are voting in (but are otherwise eligible) to cast an affidavit ballot. This ballot will be used as their official voter registration, adding them to the statewide voter rolls as if they had completed a standard registration form. The bill also allows the affidavit ballot to serve as a written request to transfer voting precincts or wards, and automatically reactivates voters who were placed on inactive status (due to a confirmation notice) after they cast such a ballot. These changes aim to streamline voter registration and address common issues at polling places.

Maddy summaryHB 321 appropriates $5 million from the state general fund to Coahoma County's Board of Supervisors for specific railroad track upgrades. The funds will cover replacing crossties, improving road crossings, and reinforcing bridges along a rail line between Lula and Swan Lake. This direct state funding supports Coahoma County's infrastructure improvements for the fiscal year 2027. The bill authorizes the State Treasurer to disburse the funds upon proper requisitions.

Maddy summaryHB 359 appropriates $500,000 from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Department of Revenue for system upgrades to the homestead exemption program during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The funding covers costs to modernize the existing homestead exemption system, which helps qualifying homeowners reduce their property tax burden. This bill directly affects the Department of Revenue’s operations and indirectly supports homeowners who rely on the exemption system. It does not change eligibility rules or tax rates, only providing funds for technical improvements to the administrative system.

Maddy summaryHB 296 appropriates $2 million from the state general fund to Tunica County for repaving and repairing traffic lights on Casino Strip Resort Boulevard during fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). The funds are intended to cover costs directly associated with this specific infrastructure project on a road serving casino resorts. The bill authorizes the State Treasurer to disburse the money upon proper state fiscal procedures. This is a straightforward funding allocation with no policy changes or broader legislative impact.

Maddy summaryHB 358 would have allowed individuals convicted of felony embezzlement (under Sections 97-23-19 or 97-23-25) to petition for expungement of their conviction 14 years after completing all sentence terms. However, the bill explicitly excluded public officials - such as state, county, city, or town officers - from eligibility for expungement related to convictions tied to their official duties (Section 5). This created a contradiction, as the bill’s title targeted officers but barred them from the relief it proposed. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 297 would have authorized mobile sports wagering in Mississippi by defining "digital platform" as entities operating sports betting online via websites or apps. It revised gaming license fees based on platform revenue and removed a ban on fantasy sports contests involving college athletes. The bill directly affected licensed sports betting operators and the Mississippi Gaming Commission, which would have regulated these digital services. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted into law.

Maddy summaryHB 360 requires Mississippi school districts to pay noninstructional and hourly school employees their usual wages when schools close due to extreme weather, illness outbreaks, natural disasters, or other reasons that prevent work. Employees must be compensated for the hours they would have worked (based on fixed schedules or 30-day averages), with no pay reduction during closures. The bill, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects hourly-paid school staff not covered by formal contracts. It does not alter existing pay structures but mandates consistent compensation during mandated closures.

Maddy summaryHB 299 would amend Mississippi law to allow retired judges from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, circuit court, chancery court, or county court to perform marriage ceremonies, expanding the current list of authorized officiants. The bill specifically adds "retired judges" to Section 93-1-17, which already permits active judges, ministers, and other officials to solemnize marriages. If enacted, this change would directly affect retired judges seeking to officiate weddings and couples in Mississippi seeking officiants. The bill was introduced but died in committee in February 2026 and would have taken effect July 1, 2026, had it passed.