State Workforce Investment Board; require to create, through Office of Workforce Development, list of certain industry certifications.

HB 302 requires Mississippi's State Workforce Investment Board to create a separate list of high-value industry certifications for students at community and junior colleges, aligning with existing K-12 certification standards. It mandates the Mississippi Community College Board to pay $600 grants to colleges for each student earning a qualifying certification, subject to available funding. The grants prevent double reimbursement for certifications already earned at secondary or other postsecondary institutions. This directly affects community colleges, their students in career/technical programs, and the Mississippi Community College Board as the grant administrator. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.