Rep. Becky Currie

Maddy summaryHB 1475 allows county sheriffs operating jails or regional facilities housing state inmates to create work programs where inmates assist the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). Inmates must be at least three years from release, cannot have recent sex crimes or violent felony convictions, and MDOT handles transportation while sheriffs manage security. The bill requires the state Department of Corrections to pay facilities $34 daily per participating inmate (increasing the prior rate from $32.71), effective until July 1, 2029. This directly affects county correctional facilities, MDOT, and state inmates eligible for work programs.

Maddy summaryHB 561 would require Mississippi voters registering in person or by mail (excluding those using federal postcard applications) to submit proof of current residence with their application. Acceptable documents include driver's licenses, utility bills, lease agreements, or other official IDs containing a full name and complete residential address. Applications missing this documentation would be rejected after 10 days. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1478 establishes "The Prison to Paycheck Act of 2025," creating work release programs for eligible inmates in Mississippi county correctional facilities and jails. It requires participating employers to pay at least the local prevailing wage (minimum federal wage), excludes inmates convicted of recent sex crimes or multiple violent felonies, and mandates that inmates save 40% of earnings for post-release use. The bill also requires facilities to receive a $34 daily per diem payment for each participating inmate and specifies how inmate wages must be distributed (20% for dependents/support, 20% for program costs, 10% for room/board, 10% for personal expenses, with 40% saved). The program applies to state inmates housed in county facilities and expires on July 1, 2029.

Maddy summaryHB 1578 requires health insurers to cover postpartum depression screenings for new mothers and prohibits step therapy protocols for FDA-approved treatments. It mandates that healthcare providers screen all postnatal patients for depression using standard guidelines and refer those needing care to appropriate treatments. Insurers must reimburse providers adequately for these screenings, ensuring access without cost barriers. The bill also updates Medicaid coverage rules to align with these requirements, directly affecting mothers, healthcare providers, and insurance companies in Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 1179 prohibits Mississippi's state-supported colleges and universities (under the Board of Trustees of State Institutions or Mississippi Community College Board) from using any funds - public or private - to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, initiatives, or offices. The bill bans DEI-related requirements in hiring, promotions, admissions, and student disciplinary processes, and specifically prohibits promoting concepts like "systemic racism" or requiring students/employees to engage with certain DEI training. It also mandates institutions to adopt policies that limit DEI offices and emphasize "intellectual freedom," while banning government endorsement of any race-, gender-, or religion-based preferences. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 39 would have removed the waitlist requirement for students with special needs eligible for Educational Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) under Mississippi's "Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act." It would have required automatic enrollment for eligible students (based on first-come, first-served applications) and funded each ESA at the state's standard student base amount, adjusted annually like public school funding. The bill also clarified that ESA funds would not come from school district budgets. This legislation died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1415 would have transferred the administration of Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) certification from Mississippi's State Department of Health to the Mississippi Board of Nursing, effective July 1, 2026. The bill required the Board to set certification requirements, approve training courses, administer exams, issue certifications, and maintain the CNA registry. It also directed the transfer of existing certification funds and relevant Health Department staff to the Board. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 40 requires all health insurance policies in Mississippi providing hospital, medical, or surgical coverage (issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026) to cover medically necessary treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. It prohibits insurers from limiting coverage for chronic conditions to only short-term or acute care and bans them from denying coverage based on the availability of public programs like Medicaid. Insurers must use current medical standards to determine medical necessity and follow specific guidelines for reviewing treatment requests. This law directly affects health insurance companies and their policyholders in Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 44, titled "No Fees for EFTs Act," would have prohibited health plans in Mississippi from charging health care providers fees for electronic fund transfers (EFTs) and payment details sent electronically, starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects health care providers (like doctors and hospitals) who receive payments from health insurance plans. The bill would have banned all fees - such as those deducted from payments - related to electronic transactions between providers and health plans. The bill was introduced but died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 47 prohibits knowingly transporting unauthorized immigrants into Mississippi as a felony punishable by 1-5 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. It also criminalizes forging government documents for unauthorized immigrants with similar penalties. The bill directly affects individuals who transport undocumented people or forge documents, while amending existing laws to strengthen enforcement (e.g., increasing penalties for E-Verify violations and restricting driver's licenses for unauthorized immigrants). It also clarifies that Mississippi agencies must cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and prohibits unauthorized immigrants from serving as labor representatives. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and does not specify new public benefit restrictions beyond existing provisions.