The second week of the 2023 Legislative Session continued much as the first. Wednesday, January 11, was the deadline for legislators to request a bill be drafted by staff attorneys. Monday, January 16, is the deadline for legislators to introduce the drafted bills. Over 600 bills have been filed this week, with 14 being referred to the Senate Education Committee and 49 being referred to the House Education Committee. The chairperson for each committee will begin reviewing these bills, and committee meetings should begin to ramp up next week.

Also, many statewide and district elected officials signed up to run for another term as qualifying began last week for the 2023 general election. There are a number of open seats in the Legislature, including the position for the Speaker of the House. Current House Speaker Philip Gunn announced in the fall that he would not be running for re-election to the House this year after serving 12 years as speaker and 20 years in the House.

As deadlines passed this week, more bills regarding education were put forth. A couple of bills in the House look to impact school testing. HB 345 would require the discontinuation of end-of-course subject area testing and all statewide assessments, other than a single uniform basic skills test for grades 3, 8, and 11. Similarly, HB 332 would require the State Board of Education to cease the administration of all statewide testing and would require the determination as to whether or not a student is eligible for promotion to the next grade to be based solely on the student’s academic performance. 

The Senate also introduced more bills impacting education, including SB 2163 and SB 2164. SB 2163 would require compulsory school attendance for all kindergarten-aged children in Mississippi. SB 2164 would allow school districts to convey, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of real property for residential, mixed-use, or other developments.

To view the bills that have been assigned to the House Education Committee, click here.

To view the bills that have been assigned to the Senate Education Committee, click here.

• Monday, January 16, 2023 — Introduction of general bills and constitutional amendments.
• Tuesday, January 31, 2023 — Committees to report general bills and constitutional amendments originating in own house.
• Thursday, February 9, 2023 — Original floor action on general bills and constitutional amendments originating in own house.
• Friday, February 10, 2023 — Deadline for reconsideration and passage of general bills and constitutional amendments originating in own house.