Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1126: Teacher pay; increase for teachers and assistant teachers.
Status: Failed, March 3, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-19-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A $5,000 INCREASE TO THE TEACHER SALARY SCALE; TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $3,000 ANNUAL SALARY SUPPLEMENT TO LICENSED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS EMPLOYED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT ON A FULL-TIME BASIS TO PROVIDE SPECIAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE AN $6,000.00 ANNUAL SALARY SUPPLEMENT TO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND LICENSED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST EMPLOYED BY A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHO HAVE RECEIVED NATIONAL CERTIFICATION FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE CERTIFYING ENTITY, AND SERVING IN THE CAPACITY FOR WHICH THE CERTIFICATION HAS BEEN ISSUED; TO ESTABLISH A CAP ON THE MAXIMUM SALARY A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT MAY EARN WHICH IS DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO HIS OR HER YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, CREDENTIALS AND CLASSIFICATION OF LICENSURE ENDORSEMENT IN RELATION TO 250% OF THE SALARY OF TEACHER WITH EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATIONS, INCLUDING THE DISTRICT LOCAL SUPPLEMENT PAY; TO AMEND SECTION 37-21-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A $5,000 SALARY INCREASE FOR ASSISTANT TEACHERS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 25-11-103, 25-11-109, 25-11-111, 25-11-112, 25-11-114, 25-11-115, 25-11-117, 25-11-123 AND 25-11-147, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDERS WHO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM ON OR AFTER MARCH 1, 2026, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE A RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE REGARDLESS OF AGE; TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-126, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE CRITERIA AND SCALE OF COMPENSATION FOR ELIGIBLE RETIRED TEACHERS WHO RETURN TO THE TEACHING PROFESSION AS A CONTRIBUTIONS BUT NONBENEFIT ACCRUING MEMBER OF PERS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-151-203, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE BASE STUDENT COST; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 37-151-201, 37-151-203, 37-151-205, 37-151-207, 37-151-211, 37-151-213, 37-57-104, 37-57-105, 37-57-107, 37-61-33, 7-7-211, 19-9-157, 19-9-171, 27-39-317,
What the bill says
An act to amend section 37-19-7, mississippi code of 1972, to provide a $5,000 increase to the teacher salary scale; to bring forward section 37-21-7, mississippi code of 1972, which includes the salary for assistant teachers, for purposes of possible amendment; and for related purposes.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-19-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A $5,000 INCREASE TO THE TEACHER SALARY SCALE; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 37-21-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH INCLUDES THE SALARY FOR ASSISTANT TEACHERS, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 37-19-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 37-19-7. (1) Teachers' salaries in each public school district shall be determined and paid in accordance with the scale for teachers' salaries as provided in this subsection. For teachers holding the following types of licenses or the equivalent as determined by the State Board of Education, and the following number of years of teaching experience, the scale shall be as follows: * * * 2026-2027 AND SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL YEARS MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE Exp. AAAA AAA AA A * * * *HR26/R2228* H. B. No. 1126 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR26/R2228 PAGE 1 (RKM\KW) 0 50,500.00 49,000.00 48,000.00 46,500.00 1 50,100.00 49,550.00 45,525.00 46,900.00 2 51,700.00 50,100.00 49,050.00 47,300.00 3 52,300.00 50,650.00 49,575.00 47,700.00 4 52,900.00 51,200.00 50,100.00 48,100.00 5 54,250.00 54,500.00 51,350.00 49,300.00 6 54,850.00 53,050.00 51,875.00 49,700.00 7 55,450.00 53,600.00 52,400.00 50,100.00 8 56,050.00 54,150.00 52,925.00 50,500.00 9 56,650.00 54,700.00 53,450.00 50,900.00 10 58,000.00 56,000.00 54,700.00 52,100.00 11 58,600.00 56,550.00 55,225.00 …
Sponsors
- Owen, Jansen T. (R, 106) · primary sponsor
- Felsher, Kevin (R, 117)
- McCarty, Kent (R, 101)
- Hurst, Celeste (R, 75)
- Roberson, Rob (R, 43)
- McMillan, Jonathan (R, 58)
- Tubb, Joseph (R, 87)
- Lott, Steve (R, 107)
- Mansell, Clay (R, 56)
- Carpenter, Lester (R, 1)
- Harness, Jeffery (D, 85)
- Banks, Earle S. (D, 67)
Latest actions
- : Died In Committee
- : Referred To Education;Appropriations
- : Transmitted To Senate
- : Passed As Amended
- : Amended
- : Committee Substitute Adopted
- : Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub
- : DR - TSDPCS: AP To ED
- : DR - TSDPCS: ED To AP
- : Referred To Education;Appropriations A
Votes
- Passed As Amended (February 4, 2026): 122 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Teacher pay
Common questions
- What is HB1126?
- HB1126 is a bill in the Mississippi Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Teacher pay; increase for teachers and assistant teachers.
- What does HB1126 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend section 37-19-7, mississippi code of 1972, to provide a $5,000 increase to the teacher salary scale; to bring forward section 37-21-7, mississippi code of 1972, which includes the salary for assistant teachers, for purposes of possible amendment; and for related purposes.
- What is the status of HB1126?
- Failed as of March 3, 2026. Latest action: Died In Committee (March 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1126?
- Owen, Jansen T. (R, 106), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1126?
- On the Mississippi Legislature website: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1126.xml
Source: official Mississippi record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.