Bill > HB787

This bill expands the existing Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Scholarship program to include "first responders," which are defined as state and local law enforcement, fire department, emergency medical, emergency management, and public works personnel. The scholarship, which covers eight semesters of tuition at any state-supported college or university, is available to the spouses and children of first responders who are killed in the line of duty or become permanently and totally disabled as a result of injuries sustained while performing their official duties. To maintain the scholarship, students must make steady academic progress and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. The bill also clarifies that scholarship benefits are not available if the injuries or death are self-inflicted and sets an age limit of 23 for children to receive benefits, with exceptions for those who began their studies before turning 23. The existing definitions for law enforcement officers and firefighters are retained, and the bill specifies the documentation required to prove disability or death for a claim. This act will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0787.xml