Legislative Updates – Week of March 9, 2026
This week marked the deadline for each chamber to concur or not concur with amendments made by the other chamber. The most significant education development is that the Senate revived its version of a teacher pay raise, meaning there are now two potential vehicles for a permanent teacher pay raise. You can read our full explainer on the current status of teacher pay here.
Senate Actions
The Senate:
- Amended HB 1395 to include a $6,000 pay raise for teachers and a $3,000 salary supplement for special education teachers, both phased in over three years, as well as a $2,000 pay raise for assistant teachers.
- Amended HB 1909, the Department of Human Services appropriation bill, to include a $15M appropriation for the Childcare Payment Program. This passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee and the full Senate on Thursday.
- Amended HB 1935, the Department of Education appropriation bill, to include an additional $1M for 13 early learning coaches.
- Amended HB 4039, which caps the tax credit that employers can receive by providing a childcare stipend to employees at $3,000 per year per child, with a strike-all that inserted the language from a similar bill, SB 2867.
- Declined to concur with House amendments and invited conference on SB 2294. The House amendments would expand the state’s literacy initiatives through eighth grade and establish the Mississippi Math Act.
- Declined to concur with House amendments and invited conference on SB 2288. As amended, the bill would allow career and technical education incentive grants to be used to purchase equipment that leads to industry certifications.
- Declined to concur with House amendments and invited conference on SB 2524. As amended, the bill would repeal the Education Achievement Council and establish the Mississippi Postsecondary Attainment Council.
- Concurred with House amendments to SB 2787, which requires school districts to test liquefied petroleum gas piping systems in school facilities.
- Passed HB 1212, which clarifies funding allocations for university-based programs.
House Actions
There were no significant House actions this week related to the education bills we are currently tracking.
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
- Tuesday, March 17: Deadline for original floor action on appropriation and revenue bills originating in other House.
- Friday, March 20: Deadline to concur or not concur in amendments from other House to appropriation and revenue bills; and deadline for introduction of local and private bills that are revenue bills.
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