Rep. Gene Newman

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi House Resolution directs state officials to develop a plan for selling or leasing certain state-owned land near Jackson State University to fund a new 30,000-seat stadium and support local economic growth. The resolution requires the Department of Finance and Administration to consult with relevant university and medical center boards to create a master plan for the property, with a report due by January 1, 2027. It mandates that Jackson State University secure at least $50 million in private funding before the stadium can proceed and allows the university to lease naming rights for up to 20 years. The resolution also appropriates $400,000 to help cover the costs of developing the required report.

Maddy summaryHB 1076, the "Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment (SAVE) Act," regulates private individuals or companies that assist veterans with benefits claims. It directly affects veterans seeking help with VA benefits and the advisors who charge for such services. Key provisions include banning upfront or nonrefundable fees, requiring written agreements that cap fees at five times any monthly benefit increase, prohibiting guarantees of specific outcomes, and mandating clear disclosures that free VA or state services are available. The bill also restricts advisors from using veterans' personal login credentials and requires background checks for anyone accessing veterans' medical or financial information.

Maddy summaryHB 1731 authorizes the state of Mississippi to sell a warehouse property at 1286 Gluckstadt Road in Gluckstadt, currently used by the Department of Revenue for alcohol beverage control operations. The Department of Finance and Administration (acting for Revenue) may transfer the land and building to a buyer after negotiations, while retaining all mineral rights. Proceeds from the sale must be deposited into a special fund for the Department of Revenue’s use, as approved by the Legislature. This is a property transfer bill with no direct impact on residents or businesses beyond the state’s management of its assets.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution from the Mississippi Legislature that formally asks the U.S. Congress to authorize the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for military veterans who served in Honduras between 1981 and 1992. The resolution highlights that while similar service in El Salvador during the same period qualified for this medal, veterans who served in Honduras were excluded, creating what the bill describes as an inequity in recognition. It notes that service members in Honduras faced hazardous conditions and that several veterans' organizations and other states support this request for retroactive medal issuance. The bill does not directly change federal law but serves as an official memorial urging federal action to address the perceived disparity in military award eligibility.

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 1730 prohibits the use of flat or gently sloping roofs (less than 3:12 slope) in new construction of publicly funded buildings in Mississippi, such as state offices, schools, and government facilities. It requires all new covered public facilities built with government funds to have primary roofs with a minimum slope of 3 inches rise per 12 inches horizontal. Limited exceptions apply for mechanical equipment areas, small accessory structures, or documented engineering constraints affecting no more than 10% of the roof area. Project entities must certify compliance before receiving funding, permits, or construction approval, with potential fund recovery for noncompliance. This applies to all new construction, not renovations or repairs.

Maddy summaryHB 4008 appropriates $10 million from the State General Fund to Rankin County's Board of Supervisors to assist with construction costs for a bridge over the Meridian Speedway railroad on Highway 18. The funds are specifically for the fiscal year 2026-2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) and will be paid by the State Treasurer upon proper requisitions. This bill directly affects Rankin County by providing state funding for a local infrastructure project to replace a railroad crossing with a bridge. The bill does not alter laws or create new regulations - its sole purpose is to allocate state funds for this specific construction.

Maddy summaryHB 290 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund repairs, renovations, and upgrades to the City of Pearl's city hall complex and related facilities. The bill directs that bond proceeds must be used exclusively for these specific improvements, with the state pledging its full faith and credit to repay the bonds. This provides direct financial assistance to Pearl's city government for infrastructure upgrades, funded through state bond sales rather than local taxes. The legislation establishes a special fund for these bonds and specifies they cannot be used for any purpose beyond the named city hall project.

Maddy summaryHB 288 imposes a $3.50 tax on each motor vehicle charged at electric vehicle charging stations in Mississippi, collected by station operators and remitted to the state. The revenue will be distributed to the same road maintenance and infrastructure funds as gasoline and diesel taxes, using the same allocation ratios as the previous fiscal year. It also increases the annual tax for electric vehicles from $150 to $225 starting July 2027, with inflation adjustments, while maintaining the current $75 annual tax for electric motorcycles. The bill affects electric vehicle charging station operators (who collect the tax) and electric vehicle owners (who pay the annual tax).

Maddy summaryHB 285 authorizes the State of Mississippi to issue general obligation bonds to fund a traffic signal installation at the intersection of Mississippi Highway 468 and Murray Drive in the City of Pearl. The bill creates a special fund to receive bond proceeds, which the city would use directly to cover construction and installation costs for the traffic signal. State bonds would be issued under standard procedures, backed by the full faith and credit of Mississippi, with repayment funded through state treasury reserves if needed. This is a funding mechanism for a specific local infrastructure project, not a policy change affecting broader traffic regulations.