DEI in K-12 and colleges and universities; bring forward sections that regulate.

HB 1659 prohibits Mississippi public K-12 schools and colleges from establishing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices or requiring diversity statements during hiring. It bans programs promoting "divisive concepts" (defined as content linking race, gender, or national origin to inherent superiority or oppression) and prohibits favoring applicants based on race, sex, color, or national origin. The bill directly affects all public educational institutions in Mississippi by restricting DEI-related policies, trainings, and hiring practices. It reorganizes existing prohibitions from Mississippi Code sections 37-191-1 through 37-191-17 without creating new programs. The bill died in committee in 2026 and was never enacted.