Rep. Robert Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 1478 requires Mississippi's Division of Medicaid to create and manage a new program for tracking and reporting Medicaid eligibility data. The bill mandates the agency to collect detailed annual statistics on application approvals/denials, enrollment demographics (by race, location, and program type), processing times, and service metrics like call center performance. These reports must be shared publicly and with the legislature by December 1 each year, including specific breakdowns like re-enrollment rates after termination. The program directly affects how Medicaid operates in Mississippi, ensuring transparency in eligibility decisions but not changing who qualifies for benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 48, the Mississippi Grocery Initiative Act, would have created a state program administered by the Department of Human Services to expand access to healthy foods in Mississippi food deserts - areas lacking grocery stores within ½ mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural). It would have provided grants and financial assistance to eligible food resources (like grocery stores, food banks, and specialty grocers) in these areas to cover equipment, capital expenses, or operational costs, prioritizing locations with high poverty rates. The program would have also offered technical assistance to participants to help navigate regulations and access funding. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 129 would have modified Mississippi's TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program to remove several barriers for applicants and recipients. It proposed increasing income and resource eligibility limits, eliminating the "family cap" (which limited benefits to one child), and deleting mandatory job searches, drug testing requirements, and strict work participation rules. The bill also changed sanctions for non-compliance to apply only to the individual involved, not the entire family, and waived work requirements in high-unemployment areas or during disasters. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2839 requires used motor vehicle dealers in Mississippi to complete six hours of continuing education annually through the Mississippi Independent Auto Dealers Association to renew their licenses. At least one hour must cover titling and tags, and at least three hours must be in-person training. The law applies to all used auto dealers except salvage vehicle sellers, manufactured home dealers, and franchised new car dealers. It aims to ensure dealers maintain current knowledge of licensing procedures and business practices. The bill was introduced but died in committee in 2026, so it never took effect.

Maddy summarySB 2315 would require Mississippi's Department of Public Safety to enable electronic driver's licenses and permits to be added to popular digital wallets (like Apple Wallet or Google Pay) by July 1, 2026. This change would apply to drivers who choose to use electronic licenses instead of physical ones, allowing them to display their license digitally on smartphones. The bill does not create new license requirements but adds digital wallet compatibility as an optional format for existing electronic licenses. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2429, the "Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force Act," proposed creating a 12-member task force to study AI's role in Mississippi K-12 education. The task force - appointed by state leaders and including education, tech, and privacy experts - would have evaluated AI applications, developed policy recommendations on ethics and data privacy, and suggested ways to integrate AI into curricula and teacher training. It was required to submit interim and final reports to state leaders by December 2026, with the task force dissolving January 1, 2027. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never advanced to a vote.

Maddy summarySB 2392 would require businesses offering subscription services longer than one month to obtain written consumer acknowledgment of renewal terms and cancellation policies before charging. It mandates that businesses send renewal notices 7-21 days in advance via agreed-upon methods and prohibits charging without prior compliance. Businesses failing to follow these steps must refund the full amount charged, and consumers canceling within 10 days after renewal would receive a pro-rated or full refund. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 50 requires Mississippi's Medicaid Division to study how mandatory work reporting requirements in Medicaid expansion programs affect beneficiaries. It mandates collecting data on terminations due to work rule noncompliance, tracking health visits, employment changes, and barriers like illness or transportation issues. The study would analyze subgroups (e.g., rural vs. urban residents, education levels) from 2028 to 2032, reporting annual findings to lawmakers and the public. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law. This procedural bill aimed to evaluate impacts but remains inactive.

Maddy summaryHB 102 converts Mississippi's three restitution centers (in Madison County, Flowood, and Pascagoula) into post-release reentry centers. It requires the Department of Corrections to provide housing assistance, job training, driver's licenses, counseling, and other support services to individuals eligible for release who lack immediate housing. The bill repeals laws authorizing restitution centers and amends sex offender registration procedures to align with the new reentry center framework. This change affects formerly incarcerated people transitioning back into communities without stable housing, with stays limited to 90 days or until housing is secured.

Maddy summaryHB 123 would expand Mississippi's Medicaid program to cover non-pregnant adults under 65 with incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level. This change directly affects low-income working adults who currently fall into the Medicaid coverage gap in Mississippi, as they are not eligible under existing state law. The bill amends Section 43-13-115 of Mississippi Code to add this new eligibility category, aligning with federal Affordable Care Act provisions. It would allow these individuals to receive Medicaid coverage for the first time under Mississippi's program, without changing existing categories for children, pregnant women, seniors, or disabled individuals.