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Good morning Jack,


The Mississippi Legislature is now through its first full week of the 2026 session, and activity at the Capitol has ramped up quickly. Hundreds of bills have already been introduced, committees are taking shape, and we’re starting to see which issues are likely to take priority in the weeks ahead.

Education policy has clearly emerged as a major focus, alongside early movement on healthcare regulation and the state budget.

Below is a look at what’s happening in the House and Senate, followed by a closer look at one education proposal that has quickly become a focal point of debate at the Capitol.


** House Update
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The House spent the first full week of session in high-volume filing mode, with hundreds of bills introduced and referred to committee. That’s typical at this stage, but the sheer volume gives an early sense of how active this session is shaping up to be.

Education policy has been a clear area of focus. HB 2, the Mississippi Educational Freedom Program Act, is the most sweeping education proposal introduced so far and has quickly become a central topic at the Capitol.

Beyond education, House filings have touched on a wide range of issues, including healthcare regulation, local projects, and state spending. Most of these proposals have not yet reached hearings or floor debate, but together they offer an early look at the priorities lawmakers are beginning to surface.


** Senate Update
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The Senate moved more quickly into policy work during the opening days of session, particularly on education-related bills.

Several measures addressing teacher pay, student transfers between school districts, and retired educators returning to the classroom passed committee and have now been sent to the House. With those bills now in House hands, attention will turn to whether and how they move forward.

At this stage, these bills have not yet reached the floor, but their early movement through committee suggests that education policy will remain a central focus as session continues.


** Bill Spotlight: HB 2 — Mississippi Educational Freedom Program Act of 2026
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HB 2 represents the most comprehensive education reform proposal introduced so far this session. At its core, the bill is designed to expand educational options for Mississippi families by giving parents more flexibility in how and where their children are educated.

The legislation would create a new education freedom program that allows eligible families to direct education funding toward the learning environment that best fits their child’s needs.

As expected for a bill of this scale, HB 2 has sparked strong reactions. Supporters view it as a long-overdue step toward empowering parents and improving outcomes, while critics have raised concerns about its potential impact. That debate isn’t unusual for a proposal that challenges long-standing systems.

What’s undeniable is that HB 2 has pushed education reform to the forefront of the conversation this session.


** Growing Support Beyond the Capitol
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Momentum around education reform isn’t limited to lawmakers.

Last week, 101 Mississippi business leaders signed a letter urging the Legislature to move forward with a strong school choice program, pointing to the connection between education, workforce readiness, and the state’s long-term economic growth and success.

Support has also come from outside the state. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon praised Mississippi's effort, saying she was “thrilled to see Mississippi advancing an ambitious school choice expansion in their 2026 session,” and noting that giving parents options is key to improving education outcomes.

National education organizations have echoed that sentiment, highlighting Mississippi as a state to watch as these discussions move forward.

Taken together, these voices underscore just how significant this moment is for education policy in Mississippi.


** Other Bills We’re Watching
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While education has dominated early headlines, several other policy areas are beginning to take shape as well.

In healthcare, a small number of bills have been introduced that create targeted exceptions to Mississippi’s Certificate of Need laws. These proposals stop short of broad reform, but they do suggest a continued interest in revisiting how healthcare access and competition are regulated.

On the budget side, lawmakers have introduced a large number of appropriations bills for state agencies, local projects, and infrastructure. At this point, these reflect individual funding requests rather than a broader fiscal framework. More substantive budget discussions are expected later in the session.

We’re also keeping an eye on early activity related to public purchasing and procurement, though no comprehensive reform proposals have emerged yet.


** What Comes Next
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As the session moves forward, we’ll be watching closely to see:
* How HB 2 progresses through committee and what changes, if any, are proposed
* Whether education reform efforts expand beyond HB 2 into additional legislation
* When broader conversations around healthcare regulation and fiscal policy begin to take shape

We’ll continue to track developments and share important updates as they happen.


** Track Legislation in Real Time
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Want to follow along as bills move through the process? You can track key legislation throughout the session using the Mississippi Center for Public Policy’s bill tracker.
Track Bills at the Capitol ([link removed])
Thanks for following along this week as the legislative session continues to take shape. I’ll be back next Wednesday with another update on what’s happening at the Capitol and what it means for Mississippi.

Until next time,

Anika Page
Director of Operations

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