Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 745) would allow state, county, city, or town officials convicted of felony embezzlement to petition for expungement of their conviction 14 years after completing all sentence terms, including fines. It specifically amends Mississippi law to extend the waiting period for these public officials from the standard 5 years to 14 years, while maintaining existing requirements like payment of all fines and costs. The bill applies only to embezzlement convictions under Sections 97-23-19 or 97-23-25 involving public officials, excluding other offenses listed in the law. This change would permit these individuals to have their criminal records cleared after a longer rehabilitation period, though it does not affect eligibility for expungement of other crimes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 749 requires Mississippi school districts to pay noninstructional and hourly employees (like cafeteria workers or custodians) their regular hourly wage whenever schools close due to extreme weather, illness outbreaks, or other reasons - covering the hours they would have worked. It mandates payment based on either fixed daily hours or the employee’s average hours over the prior 30 days, and prohibits districts from reducing pay during closures. The bill would have applied to non-contract staff not under typical teaching agreements. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 748 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. The bill expands the current list of authorized marriage officiants - previously limited to active judges, ministers, and certain other officials - to explicitly include retired judges. This change would directly affect retired judges statewide, enabling them to solemnize marriages anywhere in Mississippi upon presentation of a valid marriage license. The bill was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025, but died in committee on February 4, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 746 would amend Mississippi law to allow individuals convicted of felony embezzlement committed by public officers to have their conviction removed from public records through expungement. Currently, this specific embezzlement offense is listed as nonexpungeable, preventing eligible individuals from clearing their records even after meeting standard requirements like waiting five years post-sentence and paying fines. The bill removes this crime from the list of nonexpungeable felonies, making it eligible for the same expungement process as other qualifying offenses. This change would directly affect public officials convicted of embezzlement in their official capacity who meet all other expungement criteria.
Maddy summaryHB 682 would have authorized mobile sports wagering in Mississippi by defining "digital platform" as entities operating sports betting via websites or mobile apps. It revised gaming laws to permit these digital services, updated licensing fees based on platform revenue, and removed a ban on fantasy sports contests featuring collegiate athletes. The bill directly affected sports betting operators seeking to offer mobile services and would have changed how such platforms are regulated under Mississippi's Gaming Control Act. It did not create new gambling but expanded existing legal frameworks to include digital sports wagering.
Maddy summaryHB 747 amends Mississippi law to allow the Tunica County Health Care Authority, Tunica County Board of Supervisors, or an authorized managing entity to apply for and receive a Certificate of Need (CON) from the State Department of Health for constructing a new acute care hospital in Tunica County. The bill requires applicants to demonstrate the "feasible viability" of the project, which is the standard CON requirement for new hospital construction under existing law (Section 41-7-191). It does not change general CON rules but creates a specific pathway for this single project in Tunica County. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 683 allows Mississippi alcohol package retailers (stores selling sealed alcohol packages) to apply to become lottery retailers and sell lottery tickets. The bill amends state law to make holders of alcohol package permits eligible for lottery retailer status under the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law, subject to standard requirements like tax compliance and no disqualifying criminal history. This change would enable alcohol stores to expand their sales to include lottery tickets at their existing locations. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee in February 2025.