House Bill 1617: Tim Tebow Act

January 31, 2025March 5, 2025 Bill Tracker

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HB 1617 died in committee on March 4. 

Explanation of the Bill

House Bill 1617 would establish the Tim Tebow Act, which would authorize homeschool students to participate in public school extracurricular activities. The bill defines extracurricular activities as any school-authorized sport or activity sanctioned by the Mississippi High School Activities Association. 

Requirements

Students would only be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities sponsored or engaged in by the public school to which they are assigned based on local attendance policies. 

Homeschool students participating in extracurricular activities at their local public school would be required to:

• Adhere to the same behavioral standards as other students;
• Adhere to the same academic standards as other students, as confirmed by appropriate documentation. Appropriate documentation may include the results of a nationally recognized standardized test or its equivalent, or a portfolio of the student’s school work demonstrating the student’s proficiency; 
• Participate in the statewide testing program;
• Register with the school regarding their intent to participate in the extracurricular activity before the start of the semester; and
• Comply with the same physical examination, immunization, insurance, age, and semester eligibility requirements as other students. 

Transportation

The public school sponsoring or engaging in the extracurricular activity would not be responsible for transporting homeschool students to or from the activity. This would be the responsibility of the parent, guardian, or student. However, the student would be allowed to use the same transportation as other students (such as a bus from the school to the event) as long as this did not incur additional expenses for the school district. 

Anti-Discrimination Clause

When selecting members of a team, school districts would be prohibited from discriminating against homeschool students who are eligible under this law to participate in extracurricular activities within the district. 

This bill would take effect on July 1, 2025. 

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