HB 219 proposed establishing a pilot program (M.P.A.C.) within Mississippi's State Department of Education to provide grants to six selected school districts (three urban, three rural) for parental involvement services. It would require parents of compulsory-school-age children in participating districts to attend school events after certain student rule violations (not serious enough for expulsion) and link student withdrawal from school to driver's license suspension (with exemption from reinstatement fees). The program would fund school-based family support services, including parenting classes, after-school care, and community partnerships, modeled after the Communities In Schools approach. This pilot would apply to families of children in participating districts starting in the 2027-2028 school year.
HB 233 would require rural hospitals (defined as those with 50 or fewer general beds) to transfer patients to major hospitals (over 50 beds) when a doctor at the rural facility deems it medically necessary. The bill mandates the State Department of Health to create rules defining specific situations considered medically necessary for transfers, considering factors like care disparities, chronic conditions, emergencies, and efficient transfer processes. It directly affects patients at rural hospitals and the hospitals themselves, establishing a formal transfer process based on medical judgment. The bill was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.
HB 256 requires Mississippi's Governor and Division of Medicaid to negotiate a federal waiver under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act to expand Medicaid coverage. If approved, it would cover low-income adults (19-64 years) with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), including childless adults and parents, transitioning them from traditional Medicaid to private health plans. Key provisions include requiring two private Qualified Health Plans (QHPs), capping cost-sharing at 2-5% of income, and creating a "Mississippi Healthy Living Account" for health savings contributions. The bill died in committee in 2026 and did not become law.
HB 277 proposes lowering Mississippi's age of majority from 21 to 18 years old, directly affecting all residents turning 18. It would revise over 15 sections of state law to replace references to "21" with "18," including updating marriage license eligibility, contractual capacity (allowing 18-year-olds to enter binding contracts independently), jury service requirements, and legal definitions of "infant" or "minor." Key provisions also adjust age limits for inheritance, adoption, guardianship, and tort claims, while repealing outdated sections related to veterans' or executors' legal disabilities. This is a comprehensive consistency update across civil, family, and procedural laws, not a new policy.
HB 214 requires comprehensive sex education in Mississippi public schools for grades K-12, emphasizing abstinence as the expected norm while mandating medically accurate instruction on STI prevention, contraception effectiveness, and healthy relationships. It specifies that all course materials must be age-appropriate, fact-based, and include topics like HIV prevention, consequences of unintended pregnancy, and sexual assault resources. Parents may opt their children out of the program in writing without academic penalty. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted into law.
HB 243 would require all public school students in Grade 9 across Mississippi to take a comprehensive Mississippi History course. The course must cover the state's history from early exploration through the present, with specific focus on political, social, economic, and cultural developments of the 19th and 20th centuries impacting Mississippi's diverse communities. If enacted, this requirement would take effect on July 1, 2026, mandating curriculum changes for ninth-grade public schools statewide.
HB 258, the "Mississippi Joint Municipal Law Enforcement Act," allows two or more municipalities within a single county to form a joint police department if their local governing authorities determine it serves the best interests of the communities, considering efficiency and cost savings. The joint department would be governed by a board composed of the mayors from each participating municipality and the county sheriff, who would handle budgeting, hiring, equipment management, and operational decisions. The bill outlines the process for establishing the department, including resolution requirements, board formation, and incorporation with the Secretary of State to create a legally recognized entity. This framework directly affects municipalities seeking collaborative law enforcement solutions without requiring new state-level oversight.
HB 236 establishes the African-American Resident Physician Scholarship Program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. It provides financial assistance to African-American medical residents to increase the number of Black physicians serving in Mississippi's underserved municipalities, counties, or rural areas. Participants must practice for at least five years in designated health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), medically underserved areas (MUAs), or approved rural locations; failure to fulfill this obligation requires full repayment of all scholarship funds received. The bill, which died in committee in February 2026, aims to address physician shortages in underserved communities through a service-based scholarship model.
HB 239 would waive tuition and mandatory fees at Mississippi's public colleges and universities for foster children, adopted children, and state wards under age 21 who meet specific criteria. To qualify, students must maintain a 2.25 GPA, complete the FAFSA, and enroll in associate degree programs or equivalent, with coverage limited to 120 credit hours or five years of enrollment. The Department of Human Services would verify eligibility upon request from institutions, and the bill requires annual reports to the legislature on program participation and graduation rates. This policy aims to support educational access for youth who have been in state custody or foster care, without covering room, board, or other non-tuition costs.
HB 217, titled "Vision 2031: An Education Blueprint for Two Thousand Thirty-one," requires Mississippi's State Board of Education to create a detailed education plan by 2031. The plan must include five specific goals: raising academic achievement above national averages (using NAEP, ACT, and SAT scores), preparing all students for college/career, ensuring adult literacy, promoting student health/safety, and providing equitable education. Key mechanisms include setting measurable objectives with timelines, strategies for implementation, progress indicators, and benchmarks - all tied to national/international standards. The bill died in committee in 2026 and never became law.
HB 238 would require Mississippi public community and junior colleges to waive all tuition, required fees, on-campus housing, meal plans, and required course materials for graduates of Mississippi high schools. To qualify, students must be Mississippi residents, have graduated within two years, enroll for the first time (including dual credit coursework), and meet the college’s general admission requirements. The waiver covers costs up to the actual cost of attendance, excludes school supplies and extracurricular fees, and requires academic progress for renewal. The bill also mandates specific state funding through line-item appropriations starting in 2026-2027 to cover waived tuition costs. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 231, the "Dropout Prevention and Student Re-engagement Act," creates an Office of Dropout Prevention within Mississippi's State Department of Education to coordinate statewide efforts reducing high school dropouts and increasing graduation rates. The bill requires local school districts to develop student graduation and completion plans, notify parents when a student drops out, and adopt evidence-based strategies for re-engaging students who have left school. It also establishes a grant program to fund re-engagement services for disconnected students and mandates the Office to compile research on effective prevention methods for reporting to the legislature. The legislation directly affects school districts, students at risk of dropping out, and re-engagement service providers across Mississippi.
