Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1207: State of emergency; provide exception for school districts impacted by "Winter Storm Fern" to be allowed up to 15 days of hold harmless.
Status: Failed, March 3, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-13-63 AND 37-13-64, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION OF THE NUMBER OF DAYS SCHOOL DISTRICTS IMPACTED BY WINTER STORM FERN, WHICH WARRANTED THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR SUCH PURPOSES, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF THE REQUIRED 180 DAYS OF THE SCHOLASTIC YEARS BY GRANTING SUCH DISTRICTS WHICH CONTINUE TO BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BEYOND THE EXPIRATION OF THE DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY ON JANUARY 27, 2026, NOT TO EXCEED FIFTEEN DAYS FOR PURPOSES OF THOSE SCHOOL BOARD'S ABILITY TO RECEIVE PAYMENT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE FOR PUPILS IN NET ENROLLMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to amend sections 37-13-63 and 37-13-64, mississippi code of 1972, to provide an exception of the number of days school districts impacted by winter storm fern, which warranted the governor to declare a state of emergency for such purposes, shall be required to conduct school outside of the required 180 days of the scholastic years by granting such districts which continue to be adversely affected beyond the expiration of the declared state of emergency on january 27, 2026, not to exceed fifteen days for purposes of those school board's ability to receive payment from the state departme…
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-13-63 AND 37-13-64, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION OF THE NUMBER OF DAYS SCHOOL DISTRICTS IMPACTED BY WINTER STORM FERN, WHICH WARRANTED THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR SUCH PURPOSES, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF THE REQUIRED 180 DAYS OF THE SCHOLASTIC YEARS BY GRANTING SUCH DISTRICTS WHICH CONTINUE TO BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BEYOND THE EXPIRATION OF THE DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY ON JANUARY 27, 2026, NOT TO EXCEED FIFTEEN DAYS FOR PURPOSES OF THOSE SCHOOL BOARD'S ABILITY TO RECEIVE PAYMENT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE FOR PUPILS IN NET ENROLLMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 37-13-63, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 37-13-63. (1) Except as otherwise provided, all public schools in the state shall be kept in session for at least one hundred eighty (180) days in each scholastic year. (2) If the school board of any school district shall determine that it is not economically feasible or practicable to operate any school within the district for the full one hundred eighty (180) days required for a scholastic year as contemplated due to an enemy attack, a man-made, technological or natural *HR26/R1507PH* H. B. …