Bill > HB488

This bill amends Mississippi state law to require local school boards to designate a mandatory period of reflection at the beginning of each school day, during which students are allowed to engage in voluntary, nonsectarian, and nonproselytizing prayer. The bill changes existing language from permissive ("may authorize") to mandatory ("shall designate"), removing previous time restrictions and explicitly stating that students can participate in prayer either silently or audibly. The legislation emphasizes that this reflection period is not intended to be a religious service, but rather an opportunity for personal reflection that respects students' First Amendment rights to free speech and religious expression. The bill brings forward and reinforces existing sections of Mississippi law that protect students' rights to voluntary prayer on public school property, ensuring that such activities cannot be construed as an official endorsement of any religious belief. The changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and are designed to accommodate students' religious freedoms while maintaining the secular nature of public education.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0488.xml