Rep. Jody Steverson

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that formally recognizes and commends the Walnut High School Lady Wildcats Soccer Team for winning the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A State Championship. The resolution praises the team's athletic achievements and acknowledges the contributions of Head Coach Kelley Hopper in leading the team to victory. Copies of the resolution will be provided to the team and local media outlets. This document serves as an official commendation rather than a law that changes policy or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 4073 creates the Mississippi Work and Save Program, a state-run retirement savings initiative that allows eligible employers (those without an existing retirement plan) to offer employees payroll-deducted contributions to Roth IRAs. The program, managed by the State Treasurer, uses funds from state bonds deposited into a dedicated "Mississippi Work and Save Administrative Fund" to cover administrative costs. It directly affects moderate- and lower-income workers at participating businesses, providing a new retirement savings option without requiring employer contributions. The bill also includes a separate provision exempting sales tax on admissions at university athletic events, but the primary focus is the retirement program's structure and implementation.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution formally honors the legislative career and public service of former Representative Blaine H. "Bo" Eaton II, who served Mississippi's House District 79 for 20 years from 1996 to 2016. The resolution recognizes his leadership roles on key committees including Agriculture and Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and highlights his contributions to economic development initiatives such as the Reforestation Tax Credit and the Mississippi Investment Act. This document serves as an official commendation from the Mississippi House of Representatives and does not create any new laws or policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 4005 extends the expiration date of Ripley, Mississippi’s existing 2% tax on hotel/motel room rentals and restaurant sales from October 1, 2026, to October 1, 2030. This tax, which requires voter approval via a 60% majority in a local election, funds tourism promotion, economic development, and park/recreation facilities. It applies to hotels/motels with six or more rooms and restaurants operating within Ripley. The tax must be collected separately from general city funds, with proceeds dedicated solely to the specified purposes and reported annually.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that formally commends Harold D. Miller III on his retirement after over 50 years of service to the trucking industry. The resolution recognizes his career achievements, including his leadership roles at Miller Transporters and the Mississippi Trucking Association, as well as his receipt of industry awards. It expresses gratitude for his contributions to the state and the sector, and directs that copies of the resolution be sent to Mr. Miller and the Capitol Press Corps. The measure does not create new laws or policies but serves as an official acknowledgment of his distinguished career.

Maddy summaryHB 630 amends Mississippi law to allow qualified county residents (not required to live within a municipality's limits) to serve as poll managers for municipal elections in small municipalities with fewer than 2,000 residents. Currently, poll managers for municipal elections must be residents of the municipality itself, but this bill changes that requirement for towns under 2,000 people. The key provision removes the residency restriction for small municipalities, enabling election officials to appoint qualified county voters as poll managers. This affects municipal election administration in Mississippi's smallest incorporated areas, streamlining staffing for local elections. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1117, the "Creating Transparency and Accountability in Dental Services Act," requires dental insurance companies (dental carriers) to calculate and annually report their dental loss ratio (DLR) - the percentage of premium dollars spent directly on patient dental care versus administrative costs. Dental carriers must file these reports by June 30 each year, detailing how much was spent on clinical services, unpaid claims, and recovered payments, while excluding overhead like staff salaries or network development. The Commissioner of Insurance will make these reports publicly accessible on the department's website by December 1 each year and submit aggregated data to the Insurance Committees. This applies to all dental health plans sold in Mississippi but excludes Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and other state-sponsored plans.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 designates a one-mile segment of Mississippi Highway 537 in Yazoo County as the "Colonel Donnell Berry Memorial Highway" to honor Colonel Donnell Berry. The Mississippi Department of Transportation will install and maintain signage along this highway segment. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026. This is a commemorative designation with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryHB 717 extends the expiration date of Mississippi's income tax credit program for railroad infrastructure investments, which currently ends January 1, 2030. The bill directly affects Class II and Class III railroads operating in Mississippi by allowing them to continue claiming tax credits for eligible reconstruction/replacement (up to 50% of costs or $5,000 per mile) and new infrastructure projects (capped at $1 million per project). Key provisions maintain the existing credit structure, including annual spending limits ($8 million total), credit transfers to other taxpayers, and carry-forward rules for unused credits. This extension preserves the program's current rules without altering the credit amounts or eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 999 establishes the Mississippi Parkinson's Disease Research Registry within the State Department of Health to track the incidence and prevalence of Parkinson's disease and related conditions (Parkinsonisms) across the state. It requires movement disorder centers and certified healthcare providers treating these conditions to submit patient data to the registry starting January 1, 2027, with patients able to opt out of data collection. The registry will collect epidemiological data while keeping all information confidential, and the Department must make anonymized data available to approved researchers. The bill also mandates public website updates, annual reports to health committees, and requires the State Health Officer to appoint an advisory committee with patient and medical expertise to guide the registry.