Rep. Bill Pigott

Maddy summaryHB 1006 prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of food products made from cultured animal cells (referred to as "cultivated food products") within Mississippi. It directly affects food manufacturers, distributors, and retail food establishments selling such products, with violations carrying fines up to $500 or 3 months in jail for individuals. The bill also amends meat inspection laws to explicitly ban labeling these products as meat and requires the Department of Agriculture and Health to adopt implementing rules. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all cultivated food products, including those derived from animal cells grown outside the animal.

Maddy summaryHB 565 requires Mississippi law enforcement agencies to report officer resignations and terminations to the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training. Agencies must provide timely notification within a specified timeframe and include an explanation if the resignation or termination resulted from disciplinary action. Failure to report carries penalties, though agencies may appeal the board's decision. This bill directly affects all law enforcement agencies in Mississippi, aiming to improve transparency in officer employment history.

Maddy summaryHB 1296 revises Mississippi's Plant and Soil Amendment Law to replace the term "amending ingredient" with "beneficial substance" and formally define "plant biostimulant" to align with standards set by the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO). The bill requires that labels for soil amendments and plant biostimulants display specific information, including brand, net weight, purpose statement, usage directions, and ingredient composition. This change directly affects manufacturers and sellers of these agricultural products in Mississippi, who must update their labeling to meet the new requirements. The legislation ensures consistency with industry guidelines without altering the underlying regulatory framework for these products.

Maddy summaryHB 1295 revises Mississippi's definition of "agritourism activity" to include public viewing of farming, ranching, or cultural/historical attractions on commercial agricultural properties. It requires agritourism professionals (like farms offering public tours) to post a specific warning sign at entrances - using black letters at least 1 inch tall - stating participants assume risks inherent to farm activities, such as land conditions, equipment, animals, or participant negligence. Failure to post this sign means professionals lose liability protection for injuries caused by these inherent risks. The bill directly affects farm operators hosting public agritourism activities and visitors participating in them.

Maddy summaryHB 1000 reestablishes the Mississippi Fair Commission, transferring management of the State Fairgrounds and related duties back to the Commission from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture (which held these responsibilities since 2020 under House Bill 1566). The Commission, composed of appointed members from agricultural groups (including the Agriculture Commissioner as chair), will now set rules for distributing state funds for fair premiums, manage the Jackson fairgrounds, and handle fundraising through donations and naming-rights agreements for buildings/events. It may establish a private foundation to accept non-public donations for fairgrounds improvements, separate from state operating funds, and lease naming rights to entities (excluding vendors selling illegal products to minors). This bill directly affects fair organizers, agricultural stakeholders, and the Department of Agriculture by restoring the Commission's oversight of Mississippi's State Fair operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1656, the STRONG Act, would provide tax benefits and health care support for Mississippi National Guard members and their families. It increases income tax exemptions for Guard and Reserve members, creates a $250 annual credit against motor vehicle taxes for service members and their spouses, and establishes a program to reimburse National Guard members for Tricare Reserve Select health insurance premiums. The Adjutant General would administer the program and report its progress to the legislature. The bill passed the legislature in February 2025 but died on calendar before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 722 is a funding bill that would have provided $1,000,000 from the state general fund to the Progress Community Water Association in Lamar County for purchasing and installing automated water meters. It directly affects the water association and its customers by covering costs for upgrading their metering system. The bill specified funding for the 2025-2026 fiscal year but died in committee on February 26, 2025, meaning it did not become law. This is a straightforward appropriation with no policy changes beyond the funding allocation.

Maddy summaryHB 637 would reduce the sales tax rate to 1.5% for farmers purchasing fencing materials and cattle trailers for agricultural use, including parts and labor for maintaining or repairing these items. Currently, such purchases are taxed at the standard 7% rate under Mississippi's sales tax code. The bill targets a specific category of farm equipment to lower costs for agricultural operations. This is a direct tax rate change affecting farmers buying these items for on-farm use, not a new program or broader policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1091 would have allowed Mississippi veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces to park motor vehicles for free at any state airport or airport parking facility. To qualify, veterans would need to show specific proof of service (like a DD-214, military ID, or "Vet" designation on a Mississippi driver's license) and be the driver or passenger exiting the facility. The bill required airports to implement this policy but did not mandate state funding for the free parking. It died in committee on February 13, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHR 17 is a ceremonial resolution (not a policy bill) commending the life, service, and legacy of Mattie Jane Gardner Rials, a longtime children's librarian in McComb, Mississippi, following her passing in January 2025. It honors her 45-year career with the Pike-Walthall-Amite Library System, her creation of community programs for children and individuals with disabilities, and her founding of the Miss Mattie Foundation. The resolution expresses sympathy to her family, friends, and the Pike, Amite, and Walthall County community, and directs copies to her family, the library system, and the Capitol Press Corps. It contains no new policy, funding, or legal requirements.