The Mississippi Legislature opening its 2026 session in Jackson today with House Speaker, and Kosciusko native, Jason White making clear that a phased-in approach to school choice will be his top priority this year.
He says it and other education proposals will be bundled into a single bill. Supporters of school choice say the plans would give parents more control, while opponents warn they could divert money from public schools and reduce accountability.
Over in the Senate, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hoseman has his own ideas about improving the educational experience for students by allowing them to transfer from a poorly rated public school district to a better one.
Lawmakers are also facing pressure to address long-term funding concerns in the Public Employees’ Retirement System, which affects teachers, law enforcement officers and other public workers. Teacher pay is likely to be debated again as Mississippi continues to rank low nationally in educator salaries.
Other major issues expected this session include health care access and insurance costs, particularly in rural areas, renewed discussion of mobile sports betting, election law changes, government accountability measures and economic development initiatives.
