Rep. Becky Currie

Maddy summaryHB 1743 appropriates $6,854,812 from the state General Fund and $1,825,000 from the Capital Expense Fund to support the Mississippi State Fire Academy for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes 62 permanent staff positions, requires training 8,100 students at an average cost of $1,151.60 per student, and prohibits using funds for salary increases of current employees or to replace federal funds. It mandates detailed financial record-keeping, prioritizes purchasing from Mississippi Industries for the Blind, and ties future funding to meeting performance targets. This funding directly affects the State Fire Academy’s operations, staffing, and training programs for firefighters across Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 1741 appropriates $63 million from the State General Fund and $535 million from special funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Health's operations for fiscal year 2026. It allocates specific amounts to key programs, including $34 million for the Trauma Care System (with $13 million for trauma centers and $1.8 million for emergency medical services), $20 million from tobacco funds for cancer programs and the Tobacco Control Office, and $7 million for initiatives like the Magnet Community Health Disparity Program and Breast/Cervical Cancer Program. The bill directly affects state health programs, hospitals within Mississippi's trauma network (including designated out-of-state centers like Le Bonheur Children's Hospital), and health centers receiving grants. Funds must be used as specified, with no spending on out-of-state hospitals except for approved trauma centers participating in Mississippi's system.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,786,295 from the Real Estate License Fund to cover the Mississippi Real Estate Commission's operating expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It authorizes 16 permanent staff positions and strictly prohibits salary increases for current employees without new funding, requiring all personnel costs to stay within the approved budget. The commission must comply with State Personnel Board rules, maintain detailed financial records matching 2025 standards, and follow IRS guidelines for contract employee reporting. The funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds, and all spending must adhere to Mississippi Code §27-104-25 on budget limitations.

Maddy summaryHB 1747 appropriates $209,142 from state funds for the Mississippi State Board of Nursing Home Administrators to cover its expenses during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes two permanent staff positions and strictly limits fund usage to personnel costs without increasing salaries for current employees, requiring adherence to budgeted payroll levels. It mandates detailed accounting records matching 2025 standards and prohibits using state funds to replace federal or special funds. Additionally, the bill requires preference for Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchasing decisions and ensures all expenditures comply with state budget laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1751 appropriates $162,606 from the state treasury to cover the Mississippi State Board of Psychology's operational expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes one permanent position and strictly prohibits using funds for salary increases, promotions, or title changes for current employees, requiring all spending to align with existing salary minimums and budget limits. It mandates detailed accounting records and compliance with state budget laws, ensuring funds are used solely for board operations without exceeding the approved appropriation.

Maddy summaryHB 1752 appropriates $746,698 from state funds to cover the operational expenses of the Mississippi Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes five permanent positions for the board and includes strict rules governing how funds can be spent, such as prohibiting salary increases for current employees using these funds and requiring compliance with state payroll guidelines. It does not change licensing rules or affect real estate appraisers directly - it solely provides funding for the board’s existing administrative operations. The bill also mandates detailed financial records and ensures funds are used strictly for approved purposes under state budget laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1476 establishes a work release program at Mississippi's Delta Correctional Facility, allowing up to 100 eligible inmates to work in community jobs while serving sentences. It excludes individuals convicted of sex crimes or multiple violent felonies in the past decade and requires inmates to be within three years of their expected release date. The bill mandates detailed monthly reporting to the legislature on participant demographics, program outcomes, and wages, while requiring participants to allocate 20% of earnings toward dependents/support, 50% toward a savings account for release, 20% for facility costs, and 10% for personal expenses. The program expires on July 1, 2029, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1417 requires Mississippi's State Department of Education to provide every second-grade student with a copy of the book *One Mississippi* starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Schools must use a state-developed lesson plan to teach the book's content during "Read Across America Week" annually, aiming to promote understanding of Mississippi's heritage tied to its state song. The bill, which died in committee on March 4, 2025, mandates distribution to all public school districts and charter schools. It does not alter existing curriculum standards but adds a specific resource for a designated week.

Maddy summaryHB 37 would allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) to certify the cause of death and sign a death certificate instead of a physician, but only if they were the primary caregiver for the deceased person before death. This change directly affects APRNs and PAs who provide end-of-life care, removing a current requirement for a physician's signature in specific cases. The bill, which died in committee on March 4, 2025, would have taken effect on July 1, 2025, if enacted. It represents a policy shift in death certification procedures for certain healthcare providers.

Maddy summaryHB 38 changes how candidate names appear on Mississippi general election ballots. It requires that for state and municipal elections, candidates from political parties whose presidential nominees received at least 10% of votes in the previous presidential election be listed first alphabetically by last name. After these candidates, nominees from other qualified parties (those holding primary elections) follow alphabetically, then all other candidates. This affects voters and election officials by altering ballot order, but does not change voting rules or eligibility. The bill specifically applies to statewide, district, and municipal general election ballots.