Mississippi Bills

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2501: Public schools; allow to employ or accept the service of chaplains.

SB 2501 (Mississippi) would allow public school districts and charter schools to employ or accept volunteer chaplains to provide student support services. Key provisions require chaplains to pass criminal background checks, prohibit employment of registered sex offenders, and mandate school boards to adopt chaplain policies by December 2026 for implementation in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill also amends education codes to include chaplains in school crisis response teams, require local districts to fund chaplain-related safety programs, and integrate chaplain services into emergency management plans. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2492: Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for Students with Dyslexia; standardize reference to approved therapy training programs.

SB 2492 standardizes the requirements for dyslexia therapy training programs eligible for Mississippi's Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship Program. It defines "Department-approved Orton-Gillingham based dyslexia therapy training programs" as those accredited by IMSLEC, requiring 200 hours of coursework and 700 clinical hours under qualified instructors. The bill directly affects students with dyslexia (grades 1-12) who use the scholarship to access therapy and therapists seeking licensure to deliver approved services. It establishes clear, research-based standards for therapy training programs rather than creating new funding. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2499: Exceptional children; authorize grant program for autism specialists, professional development and sensory supports.

SB 2499 creates a state grant program to help Mississippi public school districts fund autism specialists, evidence-based training for educators working with exceptional children, and sensory/instructional supports. The program prioritizes districts serving high numbers of underserved students and is limited to $10 million annually. School districts must use grants to provide accommodations like sensory rooms or equipment based on students' Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 Plans. The State Department of Education would manage the program, require annual budget requests, and establish standards for grant distribution. This bill directly affects public schools and students with autism or other exceptional needs in Mississippi.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2498: Alyssa's Law; enact to require public schools to implement a panic alert system making use of wearable panic alert devices.

SB 2498, "Alyssa's Law," requires all Mississippi public school districts and charter schools to implement a wearable panic alert system for staff members. The system must enable immediate emergency contact with first responders, trigger campus-wide lockdown notifications with audible and visual alerts, and provide staff training on device use. Schools must also ensure security data (like camera feeds and maps) is accessible to law enforcement, create confidential safety records exempt from public disclosure, and share free emergency response maps with first responders. These requirements will take effect for the 2027-2028 school year.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2510: School nurses; direct the Office of Healthy Schools to develop a salary schedule that all school districts shall use when employing.

SB 2510 requires Mississippi's Office of Healthy Schools to develop a standardized salary schedule for school nurses based on their education and experience. All public school districts must use this schedule as the minimum pay when hiring nurses. The bill amends Section 37-14-3 of Mississippi law to mandate this requirement, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects school districts and school nurses by establishing uniform compensation standards.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2504: Study Committee on Mathematical Literacy; create.

SB 2504 creates a study committee to examine methods for improving math skills among kindergarten through third-grade students in Mississippi public schools, with the stated goal that every third grader can read at or above grade level (though the committee's focus is on math). The committee must study current math curriculum, the Literacy-Based Promotion Act (a reading-focused law), and the costs of expanding data coach programs for math, then provide recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2026. Composed of 11 members including the State Superintendent, legislative education committee chairs, and appointed senators and representatives, the committee will dissolve by January 1, 2027. This bill was referred to the Education Committee but died there in early 2026.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2525: DEI statements and policies; clarify that student activity fees paid by students are not state funds.

SB 2525 clarifies that student activity fees paid by students are not considered state funds, meaning DEI policies funded by these fees are not subject to the same restrictions as state-funded programs. The bill defines "divisive concepts" to include ideas like inherent racial superiority or requiring individuals to feel guilt based on race, and prohibits educational activities promoting these concepts in public schools and colleges. It also defines terms such as "diversity statement" (requiring students to express views on race or gender) and "diversity training" to limit the scope of DEI initiatives. This bill directly affects public schools and public postsecondary institutions in Mississippi, requiring that DEI efforts not mandate students to disclose personal views on protected characteristics.

Topics ✗ Education

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2517: MSMS; provide for hiring procedures and tenth-grade enrollment options.

SB 2517 would restructure employment at Mississippi's School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) by requiring all administrative and teaching staff to be hired under contracts (replacing state employee status), while non-teaching staff would serve at the director's discretion. It also creates an 11-member advisory council with teacher, STEM, business, parent, and higher education representatives to advise the State Board of Education on MSMS planning. The bill expands enrollment options to include 10th graders when space is available, alongside the existing 11th and 12th grade residential program. These changes, if enacted, would affect MSMS staff, students, and its governance structure. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026.)

Topics ✓ Education

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2505: Prayer in school; expand protections and authorize school boards to designate specific periods for.

SB 2505 would allow Mississippi public school boards to designate specific times at the start of each school day and during school events (like assemblies or sports games) for voluntary, nonsectarian student-initiated prayer or reflection. It directly affects public school students and administrators by expanding existing allowances for prayer under Mississippi law. The bill requires such periods to be voluntary, nonreligious in nature, and not constitute a school-sponsored religious activity. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and is not currently active legislation.

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2502: School-based clinics and school nurses; direct State Department of Education to establish minimum standards and salary schedule.

SB 2502 requires Mississippi public school districts to establish school-based clinics with at least one on-site nurse for every 750 students, beginning July 2026. It directs the State Department of Education to create minimum salary guidelines for school nurses based on their education and experience, which all districts must use when hiring. The bill also transfers administration of the school nurse program from the Department of Health to the Department of Education’s Office of Healthy Schools, standardizing clinic operations and nurse responsibilities. This directly affects school districts, nurses, and students by mandating consistent health services and compensation structures.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2511: Behavoral Threat Assessment Program; require State Department of Education and Department of Mental Health to establish.

SB 2511 would have required Mississippi public schools to establish threat assessment teams composed of mental health professionals, staff, and school resource officers to identify and address students exhibiting concerning behavior. The program, based on evidence-based models like CSTAG and DHS guidelines, would mandate standardized screening, risk assessment, and intervention strategies for potential threats while coordinating with mental health services and law enforcement. It would also require parental notification policies, staff training via the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, and annual reporting to the legislature. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted into law.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

died · Mississippi · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 1317: Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund Program; establish.

HB 1317 would establish a Mississippi Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund to provide repayable loans for disaster risk reduction projects. It directly affects homeowners, businesses, nonprofits, and communities seeking to reduce flood, storm, or other natural hazard impacts through projects like floodproofing buildings, updating building codes, or improving floodplain management. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) would administer the program, requiring applicants to demonstrate project need and repayment ability. Repaid loans would replenish the fund, creating a self-sustaining program to decrease property damage, insurance costs, and reliance on federal disaster aid.

Bill results