HB 1395 Mississippi House · 2026 Regular Session

School districts; revise certain provisions regarding sale or lease of unused property.

HB 1395 revises Mississippi law to clarify how school districts handle unused instructional buildings. It requires charter schools to accept or reject the right of first refusal within 90 days or forfeit the opportunity, limiting this right to instructional buildings only. The bill also mandates that leased property reverts to the school district if the original or approved alternative use ends, with any alternative use needing prior school board approval via formal resolution. These changes aim to streamline property transactions while ensuring clear timelines and accountability.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Signed Apr 8, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the lower Current version · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to extend the time charter schools have to exercise their right of first refusal on closing school properties from 90 days to 12 months. It also clarifies that this new timeline does not invalidate any purchase or lease agreements already signed during the original 90-day window. Additionally, the bill adds a specific rule requiring a six-month waiting period before a district can sell or lease a closed school to anyone other than a local charter school, provided those charter schools have been given the chance to buy or lease the property first.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include a mandatory six-month waiting period before non-charter entities can acquire closed school properties, and the eligibility window for charter schools to exercise first refusal was extended from 90 days to 12 months.
TIMELINE

The deadline for charter schools to exercise their right of first refusal on closing school properties was extended from 90 days to 12 months.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement mandates that no purchase or lease agreements with entities other than local charter schools may be entered into within the first six months of a school closure, unless the charter schools have formally notified the board they are not exercising their right.

ENFORCEMENT

The bill clarifies that rights to purchase or lease acquired under the previous 90-day rule remain valid even after the new 12-month deadline passes.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2026 · House Feb 5, 2026

How they voted

510
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 52
Mar 11, 2026
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican34
33 Yea 1
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
9
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Apr 8, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor
executive
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Report Adopted
lower
Mar 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Report Adopted
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Report Filed
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed As Amended
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
Referred To Education
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Introduced
Transmitted To Senate
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
Referred To Education
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors