Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session

Mississippi SB2103: Education; provide pay increases, revise counseling ethical requirements, and reform school attendance law.

Status: Signed into law, April 8, 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; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT REGULATIONS REGARDING THE ACTIVITIES OF PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS, INCLUDING A MODEL CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-19-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE TO THE MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY SCALE; TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL SALARY SUPPLEMENT TO LICENSED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS EMPLOYED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT ON A FULL-TIME BASIS TO PROVIDE SPECIAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTION, TO LICENSED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND TO CERTIFIED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-21-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT NO SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL REDUCE THE LOCAL SUPPLEMENT OR PAY AN INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANT TEACHER LESS THAN THE STATE MINIMUM SALARY IN A YEAR IN WHICH THE STATE MINIMUM SALARY IS INCREASED; TO PROVIDE FOR A REDUCTION IN FUNDS FOR DISTRICTS THAT VIOLATE THIS SECTION; TO PROVIDE THAT NO DISTRICT SHALL PAY ANY ASSISTANT TEACHER LESS THAN THE STATE MINIMUM SALARY UNLESS DONE SO BY A PRO RATA DAILY AMOUNT WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A REDUCTION IN TOTAL FUNDING FORMULA ALLOCATIONS FOR SUCH DISTRICT IN SUCH YEAR OR IN THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO SUCH DISTRICT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR; TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE TO THE MINIMUM BASE SALARY FOR ASSISTANT TEACHERS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-151-203, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE BASE STUDENT COST; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-13-89 AND 37-13-91, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE QUALIFICATIONS FOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICERS; TO DIRECT THE STATE TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ONE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICER FOR EVERY 4,000 COMPULSORY-SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN IN ENROLLMENT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS; TO INSTITUTE A NEW MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE FOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICERS; TO PROVIDE THAT EACH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICER MAY RECEIVE AN ANNUAL SALARY SUPPLEMEN