Rep. John Hines

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the City of Leland, Mississippi, to impose a 2% tax on hotels, motels, bars, and restaurants within city limits to fund tourism promotion and parks and recreation. The tax applies to gross proceeds from room rentals and sales of food and beverages, with specific definitions excluding certain facilities like hospitals and schools. Before the tax can take effect, the city must hold a public election where at least 60% of voters must approve the levy. All tax revenues must be tracked separately from general funds and audited annually by an independent accountant to ensure they are used only for the specified purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores the right to vote to Ivory Moore, Jr. of Washington County, Mississippi, who had previously lost his voting rights due to a 2000 shoplifting conviction and subsequent probation violation. The legislation formally recognizes that Moore has served his sentence and has since lived as a law-abiding citizen, removing the legal barrier that prevented him from participating in elections. Once enacted, this act immediately reinstates his eligibility to cast ballots in all future elections without requiring additional court action or waiting periods. The measure directly impacts only this individual and does not alter Mississippi's broader voting laws or affect other citizens' rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores the right to vote to Isaac Thorne, a resident of Washington County, Mississippi, who had previously lost his voting rights due to criminal convictions. The legislation specifically addresses his disqualification stemming from multiple felony convictions for burglary and robbery between 1998 and 2008, noting that he has since been discharged from supervision and conducted himself as a law-abiding citizen. By passing this act, the Mississippi Legislature would remove the legal barriers preventing Thorne from participating in elections. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and does not establish new general rules for voter restoration.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HC 37) is a request to replace Mississippi's statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall with a statue of either B.B. King or Elvis Presley. It directly affects Mississippi's representation in the Capitol's collection, seeking to honor two iconic Mississippi-born musicians instead of a figure associated with the Confederacy. The bill cites Mississippi's status as the "Birthplace of America's Music" and highlights B.B. King's blues legacy and Elvis Presley's rock 'n' roll influence as fitting modern cultural symbols. The resolution formally asks the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve this change under existing statutory authority.

Maddy summaryHB 1935 allocates over $5.49 billion in state funds to support Mississippi's public K-12 education system for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It directs specific funding to the State Department of Education for general operations, vocational training, the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, and targeted programs like early learning initiatives, literacy efforts, and the Mississippi Eye Screening Program. The bill also includes restrictions limiting how much can be spent on personnel expenses for certain positions. This funding directly affects public schools, students, and educational programs across Mississippi.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.477 billion from state funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Transportation's (MDOT) administrative costs and program expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It allocates specific amounts for key areas: $1.02 billion for construction, $274 million for maintenance, $64.9 million for administration, $81.6 million for debt service, and $37.5 million for aeronautics/rails. The funds are restricted to authorized uses, including strict limits on salary expenses and prohibitions against using general funds to replace federal funding. This is a routine funding measure, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1936 appropriates $4,713,259 from the State General Fund and $8,419,652 from special funds to cover the operational costs of the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television (MAET) for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill specifically restricts $6,548,722 of these funds for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits), limiting MAET to 80 permanent and 7 time-limited staff positions while prohibiting the use of these funds for promotions or salary increases without additional approvals. It requires MAET to prioritize maintaining its current educational broadcasting schedule over producing new content and mandates strict adherence to state personnel budget rules, including using "Vacancy Funding" solely to fill unfilled positions from the prior year. The funds cannot replace federal or other special funds used for salaries.

Maddy summaryHB 1934 appropriates $1,686,731 from the State General Fund and $2,699,838 from special funds to cover the Mississippi Arts Commission's expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill specifies that $1,168,500 of these funds must be used exclusively for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits) for 13 authorized positions (11 permanent, 2 time-limited), with strict limits on exceeding the appropriation or using funds for promotions. It requires compliance with Mississippi's Variable Compensation Plan and mandates that the Commission maintain detailed accounting records for all expenditures. This is a routine funding bill, not a policy change, directly affecting the Arts Commission's budget operations.

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 summaryThis bill is a House Resolution from the Mississippi Legislature that formally commends Archie Tucker on his retirement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture after 51 years of service. The resolution recognizes Tucker as the first African American to hold the positions of Area Administrative Officer and Deputy Area Director at the Agricultural Research Service, highlighting his extensive career achievements and leadership across multiple states and territories. The document serves as an official acknowledgment of his contributions and includes details about his professional accomplishments, awards, and family support, but does not create any new laws or policy changes.