Student assessments; authorize the State Board of Education to procure contracts for in compliance with state procurement laws and regs.

HB 1203 (which died in committee on February 3, 2026) amends Mississippi's procurement laws to clarify that the State Board of Education may procure student assessment contracts under existing state procurement rules. The bill text does not change student assessment policies or directly affect students, but instead adjusts the Public Procurement Review Board's authority over state contracting procedures. Key provisions include defining the board's composition, requiring transparency in lease agreements, and establishing minority business set-aside rules for state purchases. The bill's title references student assessments, but the actual text focuses on general procurement regulations, not assessment content or implementation. This was a procedural change with no direct impact on education outcomes or student testing.