Rep. Shanda Yates

Maddy summaryHB 4011 extends the expiration date of Jackson's existing convention and visitors tax from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2030. It authorizes an additional 1% tax on hotel and motel sales and a 0.5% tax on restaurant sales within Jackson, but requires a public election before these new rates take effect. The taxes would apply to businesses meeting the $100,000 annual sales threshold in Jackson (excluding small lodgings under 10 units and 501(c)(3) non-profits). This bill directly affects hotels, motels, and qualifying restaurants in Jackson by potentially increasing their tax burden if voters approve the new rates.

Maddy summaryHB 1395 revises Mississippi law to clarify how school districts handle unused instructional buildings. It requires charter schools to accept or reject the right of first refusal within 90 days or forfeit the opportunity, limiting this right to instructional buildings only. The bill also mandates that leased property reverts to the school district if the original or approved alternative use ends, with any alternative use needing prior school board approval via formal resolution. These changes aim to streamline property transactions while ensuring clear timelines and accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 1677 creates the Metro Jackson Water Authority to manage Jackson's water and wastewater systems, directly affecting Jackson residents and the City of Jackson government. The bill requires the new authority to negotiate a lease agreement with the city to take over operations, replacing the current court-appointed interim manager. It establishes a board of directors, authorizes bond issuance for funding, and outlines financial management rules, including tax exemptions for authority assets. The legislation responds to ongoing water system issues highlighted by a 2022 federal complaint and court orders.

Maddy summaryHB 1404 creates a new criminal offense called "fraudulent utility conversion" in Mississippi, making it illegal for landlords to pocket tenant payments for utilities without paying the provider, causing service interruptions. Landlords convicted face penalties ranging from up to six months in jail and $1,000 fines for under $1,000 in unpaid utilities, to up to 20 years in prison and $50,000 fines for amounts over $25,000. The bill also explicitly adds utility payments to a landlord’s legal duties under existing law (Section 89-8-23) and requires courts to order landlords to reimburse tenants for unpaid utility fees plus related costs like medical or food expenses. This directly affects landlords who fail to pay utilities and tenants who lose service due to this failure, effective July 1, 2026.

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 1849 exempts certain nonprofit organizations from ad valorem property taxes and sales taxes when they lease or sub-lease land for Mississippi state park development, improvement, or operation under Section 55-3-47. Specifically, it removes ad valorem tax on leasehold interests for nonprofits managing state park lands and eliminates sales tax on tangible property or services purchased for park improvements. This directly affects nonprofits working with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks under the referenced statute. The bill creates concrete tax relief for these organizations to support state park operations without altering the parks' management structure.

Maddy summaryHB 1272 amends Mississippi law to add vehicle forfeiture as a penalty for illegal drag racing on public roads. Specifically, it requires that any vehicle used in a drag racing violation be seized by law enforcement and sold, in addition to existing fines and potential jail time. This applies only in municipalities, counties, or towns with populations of 25,000 or more. The bill updates Sections 63-3-502 and 63-3-1215 of the Mississippi Code, which define drag racing and set penalties for violations. The forfeiture provision is a new addition to existing criminal penalties for drag racing offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 1317 would establish a Mississippi Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund to provide repayable loans for disaster risk reduction projects. It directly affects homeowners, businesses, nonprofits, and communities seeking to reduce flood, storm, or other natural hazard impacts through projects like floodproofing buildings, updating building codes, or improving floodplain management. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) would administer the program, requiring applicants to demonstrate project need and repayment ability. Repaid loans would replenish the fund, creating a self-sustaining program to decrease property damage, insurance costs, and reliance on federal disaster aid.

Maddy summaryHB 1273 requires owners or operators of large motor vehicles (over 10,000 pounds gross weight) used for transporting property on Mississippi public highways to maintain insurance or bonds meeting federal standards (49 CFR part 387). It directly affects businesses operating such vehicles that currently fall outside existing insurance requirements for carriers like common or contract carriers. The bill establishes a minimum insurance amount to cover public injury or property damage claims, aligning with U.S. Department of Transportation rules. This creates a new regulatory requirement for a specific category of commercial vehicles not previously subject to these insurance mandates.

Maddy summaryHB 1271 would add a 13th ground for divorce in Mississippi, allowing a court to grant a divorce when it finds an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and that further reconciliation attempts are impractical or futile and not in the best interests of the parties or family. It also removes the "willful and obstinate" requirement from the existing desertion ground, making desertion for one year a simpler basis for divorce without needing to prove the spouse's willfulness. This bill directly affects Mississippi residents seeking divorce by providing a new no-fault option and streamlining one existing ground. The proposed changes would take effect July 1, 2026, but the bill died in committee in 2026 and did not become law.