Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1144: "Released-Time Moral Instruction Act of 2026"; enact to permit students to receive religious instruction during the school day.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION ACT OF 2026"; TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO PERMIT THE RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION OF PUPILS; TO PERMIT SCHOOL BOARDS TO COMPLETE A SURVEY TO DETERMINE PUPILS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO DESIRE RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION AND WHO HAVE RECEIVED CONSENT FROM THEIR PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN FOR SUCH INSTRUCTION; TO REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS TO ALLOW THOSE STUDENTS DESIRING RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION TO PARTICIPATE IN OFF-SITE FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR, ONE DAY EACH WEEK; TO PROHIBIT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM PROVIDING OR FACILITATING RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION ON SCHOOL PREMISES; TO PERMIT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE PERSONS IN CHARGE OF THE RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION AS THE BOARD DEEMS NECESSARY AND ADVISABLE; TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS SHALL NOT BE PENALIZED OR CONSIDERED ABSENT FROM THE SCHOOL FOR PURPOSES OF ATTENDING RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION SHALL CONTINUE IN THE REGULAR COURSE OF DAILY INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION SHALL BE GIVEN WITHOUT EXPENSE TO ANY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD BEYOND THE COST OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY; TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-91, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to create the "released-time moral instruction act of 2026"; to authorize local school boards to permit the released-time moral instruction of pupils; to permit school boards to complete a survey to determine pupils within the school district who desire released-time moral instruction and who have received consent from their parent or legal guardian for such instruction; to require school boards to allow those students desiring released-time moral instruction to participate in off-site for at least one hour, one day each week…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION ACT OF 2026"; TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO PERMIT THE RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION OF PUPILS; TO PERMIT SCHOOL BOARDS TO COMPLETE A SURVEY TO DETERMINE PUPILS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO DESIRE RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION AND WHO HAVE RECEIVED CONSENT FROM THEIR PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN FOR SUCH INSTRUCTION; TO REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS TO ALLOW THOSE STUDENTS DESIRING RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION TO PARTICIPATE IN OFF-SITE FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR, ONE DAY EACH WEEK; TO PROHIBIT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM PROVIDING OR FACILITATING RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION ON SCHOOL PREMISES; TO PERMIT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE PERSONS IN CHARGE OF THE RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION AS THE BOARD DEEMS NECESSARY AND ADVISABLE; TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS SHALL NOT BE PENALIZED OR CONSIDERED ABSENT FROM THE SCHOOL FOR PURPOSES OF ATTENDING RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION SHALL CONTINUE IN THE REGULAR COURSE OF DAILY INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION SHALL BE GIVEN WITHOUT EXPENSE TO ANY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD BEYOND THE COST OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY; TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-91, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. This …