Sen. Briggs Hopson

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Mississippi Court of Appeals' establishment (1994), recognizing its role in resolving the Mississippi Supreme Court's appeal backlog and efficiently handling appellate caseloads. It highlights the court's achievement of issuing over 15,000 merit opinions with an average processing time of 200 days since its inception. The resolution formally honors the court's accomplishments, including its community outreach programs and the dedication of its judges and staff over three decades. As a symbolic gesture, it does not enact new laws or affect any policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Warren County Board of Supervisors in Mississippi to allocate specific funding amounts to six local non-profit organizations during the 2024 fiscal year. The legislation sets maximum contribution limits for each recipient, including Central Mississippi Prevention Services, Vicksburg Family Development Services, and others, totaling $52,750. The act gives the board the discretion to distribute these funds as they see fit and would have taken effect immediately upon passing. Although the bill was referred to a committee, it ultimately did not advance and died in committee.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill provides $164,556 in general funds and authorizes $342,584 in special funds for the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority to operate during fiscal year 2025. The legislation authorizes three permanent staff positions and includes standard financial rules, such as prohibiting the use of state vehicles for non-official purposes and requiring the agency to give purchasing preference to Mississippi Industries for the Blind when bids are equal. It also mandates that the agency maintain detailed accounting records similar to the previous year and submit its 2026 budget request in a comparable format. The bill sets a deadline for spending the funds and holds responsible officers accountable for any financial obligations that exceed the approved appropriation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Department of Finance and Administration, the Tort Claims Board, and the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women for the 2025 fiscal year. It authorizes specific permanent and time-limited job positions within the Department of Finance and Administration and the Tort Claims Board while establishing strict rules to prevent using these funds for salary increases or promotions of current employees. The legislation also includes provisions requiring that general funds not replace withdrawn federal money and ensuring compliance with tax reporting requirements for contract workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funding for the Mississippi Department of Employment Security to cover its expenses for the 2025 fiscal year. It allocates money from the State General Fund and the Unemployment Trust Fund to support staff salaries, operational costs, and specific programs like One-Stop Career Centers and unemployment compensation administration. The legislation also establishes rules for hiring, limits salary increases to new hires only, and grants preference to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind when purchasing goods or services. Additionally, it sets aside specific amounts for data systems, workforce training initiatives, and administrative support.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to support the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid for the 2025 fiscal year, covering scholarships, loans, and grants for eligible students. It establishes specific funding priorities, such as reserving money for new optometry students and ensuring that the FAITH Scholarship Program receives a designated portion of federal and special source funds. The legislation also sets rules for fund allocation, including a preference for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchasing equipment and a limit preventing students from receiving aid from multiple undergraduate grant programs simultaneously. Additionally, the bill requires the agency to submit detailed annual reports on award amounts and recipient data while mandating that official transcripts cannot be issued to students with unpaid loan balances.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill appropriates $20 million from the state's Capital Expense Fund to support the construction and renovation of the CARES Center, a facility for children and youth psychiatric treatment. The funds are designated for a subgrant to Canopy Children's Solutions, which must agree to reserve at least 33 beds for patients under state care and meet specific health regulatory standards. To protect state investment, the legislation requires Canopy to provide a financial security interest in the facility and allows the state to recoup the funds if the facility fails to meet standards for three consecutive months or ceases operations. Additionally, the bill explicitly prohibits using these funds to pay employee premium payments and releases the state from any future obligation to maintain the center if the agreement is breached.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to cover the operating expenses and salaries for the Mississippi State Veterans Affairs Board and the Mississippi State Veterans Homes for the 2025 fiscal year. It authorizes specific staffing levels for both entities and includes strict rules to prevent using general funds to replace federal or special source money, while also ensuring no employee salaries fall below state minimums. Additionally, the legislation provides $250,000 to assist indigent or low-income veterans and eligible surviving spouses with care costs and grants the Board limited authority to transfer up to 25% of its budget between the Board and the Homes to manage cash reserves more efficiently.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Development Authority for the fiscal year 2025. The legislation authorizes specific amounts from the State General Fund and the State Treasury to finance the agency's activities, including economic development, community grants, and tourism promotion. Additionally, the bill sets limits on new employee positions and salary increases while establishing performance targets for job creation and business recruitment. It also designates specific portions of the funding for tourism advertising and the operation of state welcome centers.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates over $120 million from various state funds to cover the administrative expenses of the Mississippi Community College Board for the 2025 fiscal year. The funding supports a range of specific programs, including workforce training, industrial training, the Mississippi Virtual Community College, and the administration of proprietary school regulations. Additionally, the legislation authorizes 46 permanent staff positions and allocates money for facility repairs, equipment upgrades, and the Greenville Higher Education Center. The bill also includes provisions to prioritize purchases from the Mississippi Industries for the Blind and sets guidelines for future budget requests and industrial training commitments.