HB 1216 would provide National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) working in public schools within geographic areas designated by the State Board of Education as having critical teacher shortages with a $4,000 annual salary supplement. This supplement is paid in addition to teachers' base salaries and aims to support retention in regions facing staffing challenges. The State Board of Education would determine which specific areas qualify as "geographically critical teacher shortage areas" for the program. The bill does not affect existing salary structures for NBCTs outside these designated areas.
HB 1201 would require Mississippi school districts to permit students to leave campus for one hour each week to attend off-site religious instruction at their place of worship, provided they have parental consent. The bill mandates that schools cannot penalize students for missing class during this time, count it as an absence, or provide religious instruction on school property. It specifically applies to students enrolled in public schools who seek this religious instruction and ensures no cost to the school district. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.
HB 1185 would require Mississippi's Medicaid program to seek a federal waiver to cover an additional pair of eyeglasses within a five-year period for adults aged 21 or older whose vision has worsened (as certified by a doctor or optometrist). Currently, Medicaid typically covers only one pair of glasses per period, so this change would expand coverage for qualifying vision changes. The bill specifies that coverage would apply only when a medical professional determines new glasses are needed due to a documented change in vision, not for routine replacements. This policy change would directly affect Medicaid beneficiaries with progressive vision needs who currently lack coverage for additional glasses.
HB 1190 increases the minimum salary for all licensed teachers in Mississippi by $4,000 annually, effective for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond. It also mandates a $1,000 annual salary supplement for special education teachers and raises salaries for assistant teachers under Section 37-21-7. The bill directly affects public school teachers, special education staff, and assistant teachers by changing their base pay scales and adding targeted supplements. These changes are implemented through specific salary tables in the Mississippi Code, adjusting pay based on experience and license type.
HB 1202 would remove a requirement in Mississippi law that professional school counselors must follow the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Code of Ethics. Currently, the law mandates counselors spend at least 80% of their time on direct student services as defined by the ASCA. The bill deletes this provision, eliminating the state mandate for counselors to adhere to the ASCA guidelines. This change would directly affect school counselors in Mississippi public schools by altering the regulatory framework for their professional practice. The bill was referred to the Education committee but died there on February 3, 2026.
HB 1195 prohibits all advertising and marketing of medical cannabis in Mississippi through any media (including digital, print, or broadcast) or visible public spaces (like billboards). It directly affects businesses and individuals selling medical cannabis, though licensed medical cannabis establishments and those acting on their behalf are exempt from this specific advertising ban - though they remain subject to other restrictions. The Attorney General is tasked with receiving complaints, investigating violations, and pursuing legal action for enforcement. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.
HB 1187 would require Mississippi school districts that permit corporal punishment to adopt a policy enabling parents or legal guardians to actively choose (opt in) for their child to be included in the district's corporal punishment program. Parents must submit a written request each school year to include their child, and they can withdraw permission in writing at any time. If a parent does not opt in, schools cannot use corporal punishment on that student, and staff would not be protected from legal liability for doing so. The bill does not change the existing ban on corporal punishment for students with disabilities, which remains prohibited under current law.
HB 1197 restructures the membership of Mississippi's Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2026. It changes the board from nine appointed members to a new structure: eight members (two from each of Mississippi's four congressional districts as of July 2026) plus one statewide appointee, all appointed by the Governor with Senate approval. Initial appointments will have staggered terms (1-5 years), with future members serving six-year terms. The bill does not alter the department's duties or funding, only the board's composition and appointment process. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.
HB 1181, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, was a proposed bill requiring Mississippi’s Attorney General to investigate pharmaceutical companies’ promotion and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. It would have mandated an inquiry into whether companies made false claims about vaccine effectiveness in preventing infection, symptoms, or transmission - specifically targeting violations of state laws against deceptive advertising, fraud, and racketeering. The bill required annual status reports to the legislature until 2027, excluding confidential details. Since it died in committee, no investigation was ever conducted, and the bill never became law.
HB 1191 would have allowed municipal police in Mississippi towns with populations under 15,000 (excluding Pass Christian) to use radar speed detection equipment on federally designated highways within their city limits. Currently, only larger municipalities (over 15,000 people) or specific cases (like county seats with colleges) could legally use such radar. The bill specifically amended Section 63-3-519 of Mississippi law to expand this authority to smaller communities. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.
HB 1250 would make absences related to a student's disability (as defined by federal disability laws) automatically excused under Mississippi's school attendance law. It directly affects students with disabilities, their parents or guardians, and schools, by exempting families from prosecution for absences tied to the student's disability. The bill requires the State Board of Education to create rules for schools to address chronic absenteeism, particularly in districts with high absence rates. This change aims to align attendance policies with disability protections without adding new requirements for schools beyond existing intervention frameworks.
HB 1251 clarifies that only current, valid Mississippi-issued driver's licenses - not out-of-state licenses - are acceptable for voter identification in Mississippi. It directly affects voters who hold driver's licenses from other states but not those with other approved IDs like Mississippi state ID cards, passports, military IDs, or tribal cards. The bill maintains existing provisions allowing affidavit ballots for voters without required ID and requires them to present acceptable ID within five days. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
