Bill > SB2515

This bill establishes the Mississippi University System Efficiency Task Force to examine the efficiency and effectiveness of the state's public university system. The task force, composed of legislative members, university board representatives, and appointed professionals, will investigate current funding formulas, enrollment trends, graduation rates, and strategies to address demographic shifts and potential enrollment declines. The task force is required to develop recommendations for the Legislature by December 1, 2025, with a goal of increasing the post-secondary education attainment level in Mississippi. Additionally, the bill prohibits public higher education institutions and community colleges from maintaining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices or engaging in practices that the bill defines as discriminatory, such as making hiring or admission decisions based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The bill requires institutions to establish complaint processes for violations, allows individuals to report potential violations to their governing boards or the attorney general, and mandates annual reporting to the Legislature. The task force and DEI restrictions aim to ensure that academic opportunities and student engagement are based solely on individual merit and qualifications, with the broader objective of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Mississippi's higher education system.

Education, Justice

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/SB/SB2515.xml