Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB562: Upskill Mississippi Grant Program; establish to provide last-dollar tuition assistance at community colleges for certain programs.
Status: Signed into law, April 8, 2026
AN ACT TO CREATE THE UPSKILL MISSISSIPPI GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT UPGRADING PRIORITY SKILLS FOR KEY INDUSTRY LEARNING AND LABOR THROUGH TUITION-FREE ACCESS TO WORKFORCE-ALIGNED COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE PROGRAMS; TO STATE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; TO PROVIDE FOR FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM; TO DEFINE TERMS; TO STATE THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MISSISSIPPI OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID IN ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN SUPPORT SERVICES TO GRANT RECIPIENTS; TO REQUIRE ACCELERATE MISSISSIPPI TO ANNUALLY PROVIDE A LIST OF ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS BASED ON PRIORITY SECTORS AND OCCUPATIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION ON A PHASED-IN SCHEDULE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to create the upskill mississippi grant program to support upgrading priority skills for key industry learning and labor through tuition-free access to workforce-aligned community and junior college programs; to state legislative findings; to provide for funding of the program; to define terms; to state the duties and responsibilities of the mississippi office of financial aid in administering the program; to require eligible institutions to provide certain support services to grant recipients…
From the enrolled text, April 2, 2026:
AN ACT TO CREATE THE UPSKILL MISSISSIPPI GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT UPGRADING PRIORITY SKILLS FOR KEY INDUSTRY LEARNING AND LABOR THROUGH TUITION-FREE ACCESS TO WORKFORCE-ALIGNED COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE PROGRAMS; TO STATE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; TO PROVIDE FOR FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM; TO DEFINE TERMS; TO STATE THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MISSISSIPPI OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID IN ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN SUPPORT SERVICES TO GRANT RECIPIENTS; TO REQUIRE ACCELERATE MISSISSIPPI TO ANNUALLY PROVIDE A LIST OF ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS BASED ON PRIORITY SECTORS AND OCCUPATIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION ON A PHASED-IN SCHEDULE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "UPSKILL Mississippi Grant Program," an initiative designed to support Upgrading Priority Skills for Key Industry Learning and Labor through tuition-free access to workforce-aligned community and junior college programs. SECTION 2. (1) The Legislature finds that establishing attainable workforce goals reflects Mississippi's commitment to creating a source of skilled workers to address workforce shortages and build a sustainable economic future, which begins with investing in education programs that meet the needs of both *HR43/R257SG* H. B. No. 562 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR43/R257SG PAGE 1 (ENK\KP) employers and communities. Mississippi's workforce development goals …