Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1202: School counselors; delete requirement that counselors abide by American School Counselor Association Code of Ethics.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-79, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS TO ABIDE BY THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION CODE OF ETHICS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to amend section 37-9-79, mississippi code of 1972, to delete the provision that requires professional school counselors to abide by the american school counselor association code of ethics; and for related purposes.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-79, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS TO ABIDE BY THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION CODE OF ETHICS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 37-9-79, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 37-9-79. (1) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, the assignment of K-12 Professional School Counselors to the particular schools within the district shall be at the discretion of the local school board with the following restrictions: (a) No individual shall be employed as a professional school counselor without a minimum of a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling, or in an emergency situation, an appropriate certification as determined by the Commission of Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development; and (b) Professional school counselors shall provide the following comprehensive counseling services: *HR26/R2251* H. B. No. 1202 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR26/R2251 PAGE 1 (RKM\KW) (i) Academic and personal/social counseling; (ii) Use multiple student data sources to help students make informed academic and career choices; (iii) Career and educational counseling; (iv) Individual and group counseling (large/small); (v) Crisis intervention and preventive counseling; (vi) Referrals to community agencies; (vii) Educational consultations and collaboration with teachers, administrators, parents and community leaders; (viii) Educational and …
Sponsors
- Hobgood-Wilkes, Stacey (R, 108) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Died In Committee
- : Referred To Education
Subjects: School counselors
Common questions
- What is HB1202?
- HB1202 is a bill in the Mississippi Legislature (2026 Regular Session): School counselors; delete requirement that counselors abide by American School Counselor Association Code of Ethics.
- What does HB1202 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend section 37-9-79, mississippi code of 1972, to delete the provision that requires professional school counselors to abide by the american school counselor association code of ethics; and for related purposes.
- What is the status of HB1202?
- Failed as of February 3, 2026. Latest action: Died In Committee (February 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1202?
- Hobgood-Wilkes, Stacey (R, 108).
- Where is the official record for HB1202?
- On the Mississippi Legislature website: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1202.xml
Source: official Mississippi record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.