Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1201: Released-time religious instruction; require school districts to allow off-campus during school day.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO PERMIT THE RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF PUPILS; TO REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS TO ALLOW THOSE STUDENTS DESIRING RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INSTRUCTION OFF-SITE FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR, ONE DAY EACH WEEK; TO PROHIBIT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM PROVIDING OR FACILITATING RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION ON SCHOOL PREMISES; TO PERMIT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE PERSONS IN CHARGE OF THE RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS 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 RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION SHALL CONTINUE IN THE REGULAR COURSE OF DAILY INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION SHALL BE GIVEN WITHOUT EXPENSE TO ANY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD; 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 authorize local school boards to permit the released-time religious instruction of pupils; to require school boards to allow those students desiring released-time religious instruction to participate in the instruction off-site for at least one hour, one day each week; to prohibit the school district from providing or facilitating released-time religious instruction on school premises; to permit local school boards to make arrangements with the persons in charge of the released-time religious instruction as the board deems necessary and advisable…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO PERMIT THE RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF PUPILS; TO REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS TO ALLOW THOSE STUDENTS DESIRING RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INSTRUCTION OFF-SITE FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR, ONE DAY EACH WEEK; TO PROHIBIT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM PROVIDING OR FACILITATING RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION ON SCHOOL PREMISES; TO PERMIT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE PERSONS IN CHARGE OF THE RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS 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 RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION SHALL CONTINUE IN THE REGULAR COURSE OF DAILY INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT RELEASED-TIME RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION SHALL BE GIVEN WITHOUT EXPENSE TO ANY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD; 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. (1) Each local school board may provide for released-time religious instruction of pupils enrolled in the schools under its jurisdiction. (2) The boards of education shall adopt a released-time religious instruction policy that allows pupils who have expressed a desire for released-time religious instruction and who have received the …