Bill > HB354

This bill requires all public community and junior colleges in Mississippi to waive tuition for Mississippi high school graduates starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. To qualify, students must be Mississippi residents, have graduated from high school within the past two years, be enrolling in college for the first time (with exceptions for dual enrollment courses), and meet the college's general enrollment requirements. The tuition waiver covers not just class fees, but also includes on-campus housing, meal plans, and required books and materials. Both full-time and part-time students are eligible, with full-time students receiving waivers for up to two years or the time needed to complete their associate degree or certificate, and part-time students receiving waivers for the length of their program. Students must maintain steady academic progress to renew their waiver. If funding is insufficient at a college, waivers will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to students already making progress in their program. The Mississippi Community College Board will develop regulations for the program, and the state Legislature is required to appropriate specific line-item funding to cover the cost of these tuition waivers, using current enrollment data to project necessary funding. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0354.xml