SB 2147 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Financial literacy curriculum; require specific courses in public schools in grades 6-12.

SB 2147 requires Mississippi public schools to integrate financial literacy into grades 6-8 curriculum by the 2026-2027 school year and mandates a personal finance course (either a half-credit or full course with at least half focused on finance) for high school graduation starting with the 2031 graduating class. The bill establishes a "Financial Literacy Trust Fund" within the state treasury to support this program, administered by the State Board of Education with annual audits and legislative reporting. It directly affects all public school students in Mississippi from middle school through high school, requiring new coursework to meet graduation standards. The fund must be managed responsibly, with unspent money lapsing to the general fund annually, and the State Board must develop specific curriculum standards for financial literacy.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → Current version · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was amended after passing the Senate to remove a separate section about the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance contributing penalty funds to a Financial Literacy Trust Fund. The remaining financial literacy requirements for students and curriculum changes were preserved. The act's effective date remains July 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope was reduced by removing the provision for a dedicated Financial Literacy Trust Fund and the authority for the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance to contribute penalty funds to it.

FISCAL

Removed Section 2 that authorized the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance to contribute a portion of penalty and fee funds to a Financial Literacy Trust Fund.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized the bill's sections, changing the section numbering from Section 2, 3, 4 to Section 1, 2, 3 while keeping the financial literacy curriculum requirements intact.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title from 'Committee Substitute' to 'As Passed the Senate' to reflect its legislative status.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to significantly expand financial literacy requirements. The original version required a standalone personal finance course for grades 6-12, while the substitute version requires financial literacy components to be incorporated into existing curriculum for grades 6-8, plus a graduation requirement for grades 9-12 where at least half the course standards concern financial literacy. The substitute also adds new administrative requirements including biennial audits and annual reporting to the Legislature, and expands the list of school board powers.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded from requiring a standalone financial literacy course for all grades 6-12 to requiring financial literacy components within existing curriculum for grades 6-8, plus a graduation requirement for grades 9-12. The bill also now applies to all schools accredited by the State Department of Education, including public charter schools.

REQUIREMENT

Changed from requiring a standalone one-half Carnegie Unit personal finance course for grades 6-12 to requiring financial literacy components incorporated within existing curriculum for grades 6-8, plus a graduation requirement for grades 9-12 where at least half the course standards concern financial literacy.

Added new school board powers including ability to issue procurement cards, conduct comprehensive superintendent evaluations, and delegate nonacademic school functions to private entities.

Modified the Financial Literacy Trust Fund provisions to allow unexpended monies to lapse into the State General Fund at year-end, whereas the original version stated they would be available for subsequent fiscal year expenditure.

TIMELINE

Added specific implementation timeline requiring financial literacy components in grades 6-8 by the 2026-2027 school year, and graduation requirement starting with the graduating class of 2031.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement for independent audit of the Financial Literacy Trust Fund every two years with results provided to Education Committee chairmen, and annual reporting to the Legislature by December 1.

SCOPE

Explicitly stated that requirements apply to all schools accredited by the State Department of Education, including public charter schools.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2025

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 11, 2025

D Democratic16

16 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican35

35 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred To Education;Appropriations A

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed As Amended

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Education;Appropriations

upper

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors