The 2026 regular session of the Mississippi Legislature began on Jan. 6, and the deadline to introduce general bills was last Monday. Bills are now in committee, according to the Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System, with a deadline of Feb. 3 for committees to report them in their house of origin.
Here are some bills to watch that could impact student life at Mississippi State University.
DEI and the Student Activity Fee
Senate Bill 2525 would amend state policy on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in colleges and universities to clarify that student activity fees are not considered state funds. In the fall, the Mississippi State University Student Association was barred from dispersing appropriations to student organizations through the student activity fee due to the interpretation that the fee was considered state funds. Senate Bill 2602 would also amend state policy on DEI, removing diversity training from a list of prohibited divisive concepts.
MSU partnership to relocate Starkville High
Senate Bill 2238 would allow MSU and the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District to formally partner to share primary and secondary education facilities. Authored by District 15 senator Bart Williams, this bill comes after MSU and SOCSD signed a memorandum of understanding to relocate Starkville High to the MSU campus.
Residence halls and biological sex
Senate Bill 2342, titled the “Safe Dormitories Act,” would require public colleges and universities in Mississippi to give students living in residence halls the option to be housed only with roommates of the same biological sex without regard to an individual’s gender identity.
The bill would also prohibit individuals from entering dormitory rooms designated exclusively for use by members of the opposite sex, with exceptions for situations such as emergencies or custodial work. Public universities would be required to establish regulations and disciplinary procedures to enforce the policy.
Senate Bill 2345, similarly titled the “Mississippi Safe Dormitories Act,” would impose new restrictions on on-campus housing at Mississippi’s public colleges and universities. This bill, citing sexual assault statistics at Mississippi universities, would bar visitors of the opposite sex in residence halls and require all first-year students to live in same-sex residence halls.
House Bill 1200, titled the “Mississippi Safe Dorms Act,” would establish new requirements for on-campus housing and employee conduct at state universities.
The bill would prohibit students registered as sex offenders from living in on-campus housing. Under the legislation, public institutions would be required to offer single-sex living facilities in which members of the opposite biological sex are not allowed as guests, except in designated public visiting areas. The bill would also require first-year students to reside in single-sex housing
The bill would also require institutions to develop educational material aimed at reducing sexual assault risks and informing students and staff about housing policies.
Priority registration for in-state students
House Bill 323 would require Mississippi’s public colleges and universities to give in-state students priority when registering for classes.
Under the bill, the Mississippi Community College Board and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning would be required to develop a registration system that allows Mississippi residents to enroll in courses before registration opens to nonresident students. The policy would apply to both online and in-person registration.
Once all Mississippi residents have had the opportunity to register, remaining seats would then be made available to out-of-state students. The bill does not specify how long the resident-only registration window would last.
Stricter in-state tuition requirementsÂ
House Bill 353 would establish a minimum 12-month residency period for students to qualify for in-state tuition in Mississippi. For students 21-years-old and under, this residency period applies to their legal guardian, meaning that the guardian would have to prove they have lived in Mississippi for a year. Students over the age of 21 would have to prove they lived in Mississippi for 12 months prior to registering and enrolling at the university.
Currently, Mississippi State University students who are over 21-years-old, have lived in Mississippi for 12 consecutive months after their 21st birthday and can prove financial independence are able to petition for a change of residency classification for tuition purposes.
Enhanced security at large campus events
House Bill 1456 and Senate Bill 2209 would increase campus security and law enforcement collaboration during large-scale or “high-risk” events. They would establish stricter security protocols and more student safety resources like safety ambassadors and a mandatory anonymous tip submission platform.
NIL and athlete mental health
Senate Bill 2044 would explicitly grant Mississippi public universities the ability to share athletics-related revenue with student athletes or compensate them for their NIL. It would also allow universities and university employees to be compensated by athletes for connecting them with NIL opportunities and managing them.
While it expands some university rights as they relate to NIL, the bill would also add restrictions. It prohibits institutions from using appropriations from the state to pay athletes. It also bars athletes from promoting controlled substances, gambling, sports betting and more. Additionally, it prohibits people and entities “regardless of residence” from promising compensation or deals to athletes already enrolled in or in contracts with institutions in Mississippi for purposes of recruitment “unless the student-athlete has given notice of intent to transfer as provided in national association or conference rules.”
House Bill 77 would require universities to provide annual mental health assessments to student-athletes participating in school-sponsored athletic programs governed by national or regional sports associations or conferences.
Under the bill, assessments could be administered by licensed professionals and must remain confidential. Universities and colleges would also be required to partner with local behavioral health specialists to assist with screenings and to provide counseling services and care plans for students who show signs of mental health concerns.
Senate Bill 2606 would require Mississippi’s public universities to provide mandatory financial literacy workshops for student-athletes who participate in name, image and likeness activities. Under the bill, student-athletes earning income through NIL deals would be required to complete an annual workshop covering topics such as contracts, taxation, budgeting, credit management, investments and how to avoid predatory legal arrangements.
Financial literacy course requirements
Senate Bill 2344 would require students, starting with those entering in the fall of 2027, to complete financial literacy coursework or pass an approved examination on the topic as a condition for graduation. The course would educate students on topics like personal budgeting, student loan management, retirement planning, taxes and insurance.
Free speech on campus
Senate Bill 2608, titled the “Charlie Kirk Campus Free Speech and Safety Act,” would establish standards governing free expression, protests and speech policies at Mississippi colleges and universities.
Under the bill, outdoor areas of public college campuses would be designated as public forums, allowing students and community members to engage in expressive activities such as protests, speeches and the distribution of literature. Institutions would be prohibited from creating designated “free speech zones” but would be allowed to enforce content and viewpoint-neutral time, place and manner restrictions.
Currently, MSU allows organizations not affiliated with the university to assemble or protest for “Non-Amplified Expressive Activity” on the Drill Field, the Junction, public streets and sidewalks and parks or other similar common areas.
The legislation would require colleges and universities to publish their free speech policies in student handbooks, on institutional websites and during orientation programs. Institutions would also be required to develop training materials for administrators, campus police, residence life staff and faculty and to post annual public reports detailing incidents involving free expression and how they were addressed.
Medical education pipeline
House Bill 1465, titled the “Mississippi Medical Education Pipeline and Readiness Act, would create a statewide program designed to guide Mississippi students toward medical school beginning as early as high school. The program would provide a structured pathway from high school to undergraduate study, with participating students eligible to apply as early as ninth grade. Colleges and universities would be required to offer structured pre-med advising, academic support and mentorship, while the University of Mississippi Medical Center would provide early exposure opportunities and potential priority consideration in the medical school admissions process for students who complete the pipeline. The legislation would also increase the number of Mississippi students admitted into medical school.
To check the status of a bill in Mississippi, visit www.legislature.ms.gov/legislation/measure-search.
