Legislative Updates – Week of March 16, 2026
There were few major public developments in the Legislature this week. As budget negotiations continue, the question of whether teachers will receive a pay raise this year remains unclear. You can read our full explainer on teacher pay for more context on where things currently stand.
Senate Actions
- The Senate invited conference on SB 2867, which revises the income tax credit for employers providing dependent child care or child care stipends.
House Actions
- The House invited conference on HB 1935, the state appropriations to the Mississippi Department of Education.
- The House invited conference on HB 1909, the state appropriations to the Department of Human Services.
- The House invited conference on HB 562, which would establish the MissCATEE program to provide tuition-free community college to eligible students.
Bill Conferees
The House and Senate named conferees for multiple education bills that will go to conference. These include:
- HB 1935 (MDE Appropriations Bill)
- House: Representatives Oliver, Cockerham, and Roberson
- Senate: Senators Hopson, DeBar, and Blackwell
- HB 1909 (DHS Appropriations Bill)
- House: Representatives Deweese, Cockerham, and Turner
- Senate: Senators Hopson, Blackwell, and Sparks
- SB 2288 (Comprehensive Workforce Training and Education Consolidation Act)
- House: Not yet named
- Senate: Senators DeBar, Boyd, and McMahan
- SB 2294 (MS Future Innovators Act)
- House: Not yet named
- Senate: Senators DeBar, Boyd, and Hill
- SB 2524 (Mississippi Postsecondary Attainment Council)
- House: Representatives Scoggin, Holloway (76th), and Ford (54th)
- Senate: Senators Boyd, DeLano, and Sparks
Legislative Tracker
As education legislation continues to advance and budget negotiations begin to take shape, we encourage readers to follow along using our legislative tracker, which is updated daily to reflect real-time developments. Be sure to use the filter to view bills that are still alive.
Upcoming Legislative Deadlines
- Thursday, March 26: Deadline to concur or not concur in amendments from other chambers to general bills and constitutional amendments.
- Saturday, March 28: Deadline for conference reports on appropriation and revenue bills to be filed; and deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider concurrence or nonconcurrence on general bills and constitutional amendments.
- Monday, March 30: Deadline for final adoption of conference reports on appropriation and revenue bills; and deadline for conference reports on general bills and constitutional amendments to be filed.
- Wednesday, April 1: Deadline for first consideration of conference reports on general bills and constitutional amendments.
- Thursday, April 2: Deadline for filing conference reports on general bills and constitutional amendments that had been recommitted for further conference.
- Friday, April 3: Deadline for adoption of conference reports on general bills and constitutional amendments after recommittal.
- Saturday, April 4: Deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider conference reports on general bills and constitutional amendments.
- Sunday, April 5: SINE DIE
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