Rep. Bob Evans

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 4007 increases homestead property tax exemptions for lineal descendants (like children or grandchildren) of original owners who have lived in the property as their primary residence for at least 15 years. It provides an additional tax exemption on the *increase* in a home's assessed value resulting from a reassessment after the 15-year mark, beyond the standard homestead exemption. This applies only to the tax increase from valuation updates during the descendant's ownership period, not the full property value. The bill directly affects qualifying long-term family homeowners in Mississippi seeking relief from rising property taxes on inherited homes.

Maddy summaryHB 759 increases Mississippi's excise tax on cigarettes from the current rate of 5.9¢ per cigarette to a higher amount, effective July 1, 2026. This directly affects cigarette sellers (dealers, manufacturers) and ultimately consumers, as the tax is passed through to the end user. The bill amends Mississippi Code Section 27-69-13 to adjust the tax rate while clarifying that heated tobacco products are taxed separately at 1.25¢ per unit. Other tobacco products (like cigars and snuff) remain subject to a 15% tax on manufacturer price. The change applies to all cigarettes sold in Mississippi, with specific rules for package lengths and tax collection.

Maddy summaryHB 758 increases the excise tax on most tobacco products (including cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco, and smoking tobacco) to 22.5% of the manufacturer's list price, while leaving cigarette taxes unchanged at 3.4¢ per cigarette. This tax applies to businesses selling these products in Mississippi, with the cost ultimately passed to consumers. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not apply to cigarettes or heated tobacco products (which have separate tax rates). The bill amends Mississippi Code Section 27-69-13.

Maddy summaryHB 842 amends Mississippi's state tax code to exclude forgiven federal student loan debt under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program from being counted as taxable "gross income." This change directly affects Mississippi residents who have had their federal student loans forgiven through the PSLF Program, as they will no longer owe state income tax on the forgiven amount. The bill updates Section 27-7-15 of the Mississippi Code to explicitly remove such forgiven debt from the definition of "gross income" for state tax purposes. This aligns Mississippi's tax treatment with federal PSLF program rules, avoiding double taxation on forgiven loans.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a law) commending Jamal Roberts, a Meridian, Mississippi native, for winning the 23rd season of *American Idol*. It formally congratulates him as the second Mississippian and second African-American male to win the competition, highlighting his musical achievements and roots. The resolution has no policy impact; it simply expresses the Mississippi House of Representatives' praise and will be sent to Roberts and the press. It does not affect any laws, regulations, or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 757 automatically removes eligible criminal convictions from public records for first-time offenders once they complete all sentence terms, including probation or fines. It directly affects Mississippi residents convicted of qualifying offenses who have no prior criminal history. The bill eliminates the need for a court petition by requiring courts to issue expungement orders automatically upon sentence completion, waiving associated fees, and retaining only a nonpublic record for future offender status determination. This restores individuals to their pre-arrest legal status, removing barriers like employment or housing discrimination tied to sealed records.

Maddy summaryHB 755, the "Good Faith in Employment Act," abolishes Mississippi's employment-at-will doctrine, requiring employers with 20+ employees to terminate staff only for legitimate business reasons - not arbitrary, discriminatory, or retaliatory ones. It defines "good faith" termination as avoiding reasons like race, gender, reporting illegal conduct, workers' compensation claims, or personal dislike, and explicitly prohibits termination during an employee’s first 90-day probation. Employees wrongfully terminated can sue for lost wages, mental distress, and capped punitive damages (up to $300,000 based on employer size), with claims must be filed within one year of termination. The law aims to balance employee protections with business viability by limiting damages and emphasizing business-related justifications for termination.

Maddy summaryHB 756 requires nursing home operators in Mississippi to maintain $1 million in liability insurance per resident for negligence, covering facilities like nursing homes, assisted living centers, hospice care, and long-term care providers. It mandates written disclosure of insurance coverage to patients before care contracts are signed and requires facilities to display this information prominently. The law also requires proof of insurance for licensing and allows the State Department of Health to suspend licenses for noncompliance. The bill amends existing licensing laws to include this insurance requirement as a condition for operating or renewing a facility license.

Maddy summaryHB 754 modifies Mississippi's license suspension process for drivers who refuse chemical tests. It changes the rule so that the 30-day period during which a driver can legally operate a vehicle using a temporary receipt (issued after refusal) pauses ("tolls") while the driver appeals the suspension. This means the suspension period does not continue to run during the appeal process, allowing drivers to retain their temporary driving privileges until the appeal concludes. The bill directly affects drivers who refuse chemical tests and are appealing their license suspension under Section 63-11-23.