Legislative Updates – Week of January 19, 2026
In the third week of the legislative session, activity in the education policy space continued to progress as both chambers moved a substantial number of bills through committee. Senate Actions On Thursday, the Senate Education Committee passed the following bills: SB 2071, SB 2072, SB 2099, SB 2103, SB 2236, SB 2242 (committee substitute), SB […]
House Bill 2: What It Does, What It Means, and Where Mississippi First Stands
Last Thursday, the Mississippi House of Representatives amended and passed the committee substitute for House Bill 2 (HB 2), the Mississippi Educational Freedom Program Act of 2026. Mississippi First evaluates education policy through the lens of our core values: engagement, results, collaboration, transparency, non-partisanship, accountability, and equity. We support reforms that are grounded in evidence, […]
Legislative Updates – Week of January 12, 2026
Education policy remained at the forefront of legislative activity this week, with major action on the House’s education omnibus bill and early budget discussions in the Senate. Senate Actions On Wednesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard budget presentations from the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board (MCSAB), marking the […]
A Closer Look at House Bill 2: The Mississippi Educational Freedom Program Act of 2026
Today, the Mississippi House of Representatives Education Committee voted to advance a committee substitute for House Bill 2 (the Mississippi Educational Freedom Program Act of 2026) by a vote of 14 to 11. This bill has generated significant discussion, much of it focused on the bill’s broad goals and big ideas related to school choice, […]
Legislative Updates – Week of January 6, 2026
The Mississippi Legislature kicked off its 2026 regular session on Tuesday, January 6, with education policy taking center stage this week. Senate Actions On Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee advanced the following education-related bills: All three measures passed the full Senate on Wednesday and will now be transmitted to the House for further action. House […]
Early Education: FY 2026 Appropriations
By Micayla Tatum, Director of Early Childhood Policy When the legislative session came to a close on Thursday, April 3, 2025, the legislature went home without passing a budget for the state government, including an appropriations bill for the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and the Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS). On Wednesday, May […]
K-12 Education: 2025 Legislative Review
By Grace Breazeale, Director of Research and K-12 Policy The 2025 legislative session came to a close on Thursday, April 3. The Legislature failed to pass a budget for the state government during the regular session, so the Governor must call a special session before July 1. While the regular session was relatively quiet on […]
Early Education: March 2025 Update
By Micayla Tatum, Director of Early Childhood Policy The legislative session has continued to winnow down the remaining early education-related bills. After two recent deadlines on February 26, for revenue and appropriations bills, and March 4, for general bills, there are no early childhood education (ECE) bills alive. See the list of legislation below. Teacher-Related Early […]
Early Education: First Major Legislative Deadline in 2025
By Micayla Tatum, Director of Early Childhood Policy So far, it has been a relatively quiet legislative session for early education-related bills. Leading up to the first committee deadline, House and Senate Education as well as other related committees, have primarily taken up non-controversial legislation. Below is a list of how relevant legislation fared after […]
2024 Legislative Review
By Micayla Tatum, Director of Early Childhood Policy An historic rewrite of Mississippi’s school funding formula and the subsequent allocation of record amounts of public education funding headlined an eventful inaugural session for Mississippi legislators elected this past November. The 2024 legislative session will also be remembered for lawmakers asserting authority over the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and setting funding […]