Rep. Bill Pigott

Maddy summaryHB 1734 allocates $2.56 million from general state funds and $80,000 from a special fund to cover the Public Utilities Staff's expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes 24 permanent staff positions and strictly prohibits using these funds for salary increases, promotions, or replacing federal funds. It requires the agency to track spending within budget limits, maintain detailed records matching fiscal year 2025 standards, and submit future budget requests in a comparable format. The $80,000 is specifically designated for the "Atlas Project" and must be spent per state procurement rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1725 appropriates $62,755 from state funds to cover the operating expenses of Mississippi's State Board of Registration for Foresters for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It specifically allocates $18,626 for upgrading the board’s licensing system database and requires the board to give preference to Mississippi Industries for the Blind when purchasing goods or services. The bill also mandates detailed financial record-keeping comparable to the previous fiscal year and ensures funds are spent in compliance with existing budget laws. This directly affects the State Board of Registration for Foresters and indirectly impacts licensed foresters through their licensing system.

Maddy summaryHB 1729 appropriates $3.56 million for general support and $256.84 million (including $3.05 million from gasoline taxes) for Mississippi's Department of Marine Resources for fiscal year 2026. It authorizes 173 staff positions (108 permanent, 65 time-limited) and allocates $11.7 million specifically for tidelands projects, broken down into public access ($4.58M), management ($4.58M), bond repayment ($1.55M), and prior projects ($1M). The bill mandates strict accounting for all funds, prohibits using state funds to replace withdrawn federal funds, and requires detailed reporting on tidelands project spending. It also includes rules ensuring salary costs don’t exceed budgeted amounts and that funds for vacancies only fill positions, not increase current salaries.

Maddy summaryHB 1731 approves $7,595,440 in state funds for the Pat Harrison Waterway District to cover its fiscal year 2026 operations (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill specifically allocates $700,000 for park facility repairs (bathhouses, cabins) and $480,000 for dam repairs, while requiring the district to maintain detailed financial records and submit annual reports to the legislature by December 1, 2025 (for park repairs) and July 15 annually (for a five-year project plan). It mandates strict compliance with budget limits, prohibits using state funds to replace withdrawn federal funds, and requires preference for Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchasing decisions. The bill directly affects the district’s budget management and operational spending for waterway maintenance, park infrastructure, and dam safety.

Maddy summaryHB 1722 allocates $12.5 million from the state general fund and $13.7 million from special funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Archives and History's operating costs for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It authorizes 165 staff positions (155 permanent, 10 time-limited) and restricts fund use to prevent salary increases beyond current levels or replace withdrawn federal funds. Specific allocations include $2 million for preserving Mississippi Landmark Properties, $100,000 for Beauvoir Shrine (Jefferson Davis' former home), and $50,000 for the Statewide Oral History Project. The bill mandates strict accounting and prohibits using state funds for rent at the State Historical Museum.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (not a policy bill) that formally commends Major General John Trent Kelly for his 40-year military career and congratulates him upon his retirement in May 2025. It specifically recognizes his service in the Mississippi Army National Guard, including deployments to Desert Storm and Iraq, his leadership roles, and his awards. The resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any laws, regulations, or people beyond expressing the Mississippi House of Representatives' gratitude for his service. It was adopted and signed by the legislature in March 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1736 approves $9,089,507 in state funds for Mississippi's Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District to cover bond payments, maintenance, project costs, and other operational expenses during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill requires strict budget adherence for personnel spending, prohibiting salary increases for current staff and mandating that funds for vacancies fill new positions only. It also directs the district to prioritize Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchases, maintain detailed financial records matching 2025 standards, and deposit excess funds to earn interest rates comparable to state funds.

Maddy summaryHB 1268 creates the Mississippi Save Our Service Member Task Force to study mental health needs and suicide prevention for Mississippi National Guard members and veterans. The 15-member task force - including military leaders, mental health experts, and legislative representatives - will assess current services, identify gaps in support, and develop recommendations for improved mental health resources. It must submit a final report with proposed legislation and funding needs to the legislature by January 1, 2026. The bill also establishes a separate task force for first responders, but its primary focus is on military service members' mental health.

Maddy summaryHB 1878 specifies new rules for calculating property taxes on rural structures like barns and poultry houses in Mississippi. It requires tax assessors to revalue structures appraised before 2025 using older appraisal guidelines and apply a 7% annual depreciation rate thereafter, with a 20% minimum value floor for poultry houses. Commercial poultry operations must also have a 45% economic obsolescence adjustment applied to their structures. These changes directly affect agricultural property owners, particularly those operating poultry farms, by standardizing how these structures are valued for tax purposes starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 812 extends Mississippi's homestead property tax exemption to unremarried surviving spouses of honorably discharged veterans who were 90 years old or older when they died. This law, now signed into law by the governor, directly affects surviving spouses of eligible veterans who own their homes. The bill amends existing tax code to automatically include these surviving spouses in the exemption, which previously only applied to the veteran homeowners themselves. The exemption covers all ad valorem taxes on the home's assessed value, reducing property tax burdens for these households.