Noninstructional and hourly school employees; compensate at usual rate whenever district temporarily closes schools.

HB 749 requires Mississippi school districts to pay noninstructional and hourly employees (like cafeteria workers or custodians) their regular hourly wage whenever schools close due to extreme weather, illness outbreaks, or other reasons - covering the hours they would have worked. It mandates payment based on either fixed daily hours or the employee’s average hours over the prior 30 days, and prohibits districts from reducing pay during closures. The bill would have applied to non-contract staff not under typical teaching agreements. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.