Universities and Colleges

SB 2610 renames Alcorn State University's biotechnology building in Lorman, Mississippi, to the "Willie L. Simmons Biotechnology Building" upon the retirement of Willie L. Simmons from the Mississippi Transportation Commission. The bill requires the Department of Finance and Administration to install a plaque detailing Simmons' background and service, and to add official signage displaying the new name on the building's exterior. This renaming takes effect July 1, 2026, and is purely commemorative with no policy or funding changes.

SB 2849 extends the repeal date of Mississippi's SMART Business Act from 2028 to a future date (as specified in the bill), allowing the existing law to remain in effect longer. The bill brings forward the original sections of the SMART Business Act (Sections 37-148-1 through 37-148-9) for potential future amendments. This procedural change does not alter the act's core provisions, which include a 25% rebate for investors funding qualified research at Mississippi colleges (capped at $1 million per investor annually) and a separate initiative for developing state-owned intellectual property. The extension provides time for lawmakers to review and modify the program before its current sunset.

HB 935 extends the expiration date for Mississippi's MAICU Infrastructure Grant Program, which provides ARPA-funded grants to seven specific private colleges: Belhaven University, Blue Mountain College, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Rust College, Tougaloo College, and William Carey University. Funds are distributed based on each institution's full-time equivalent student enrollment and can be used for water, wastewater, stormwater, broadband, and other eligible infrastructure projects. The program requires projects to comply with federal ARPA guidelines and prioritizes water/wastewater projects before broadband and other eligible investments. This extension ensures continued access to these funds for participating institutions.

HB 920 reclassifies Alcorn State University's president's residence from commercial to residential property. This change allows licensed residential builders (under Mississippi law) to perform construction or improvements on the residence without being restricted by standard height and square footage limits for residential dwellings. The bill directly affects Alcorn State University's president and the university's ability to hire qualified residential builders for the president's home. It amends two sections of Mississippi law to align with this reclassification, specifically removing limitations that previously applied to such properties. The bill makes a procedural adjustment to property classification for a single university residence, with no broader policy changes.

HB 323 requires Mississippi public community colleges and state universities to prioritize class registration for Mississippi residents over nonresident students. Specifically, it mandates that the Mississippi Community College Board and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions develop a registration system giving all Mississippi residents first access to classes before nonresidents can register. This policy directly affects all prospective students applying to these institutions, as nonresidents would only gain registration access after in-state students have secured their course placements. The bill does not alter tuition rates, financial aid, or other enrollment policies, focusing solely on the sequence of class registration.