"Mississippi Public Universities Reform Act"; enact to prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and diversity statements.

The Mississippi Public Universities Reform Act prohibits state-funded public universities from establishing or supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices or DEI officers, and bans mandatory DEI training and diversity statements in admissions, hiring, and promotions. Instead, it mandates that admissions and employment decisions be based solely on merit, with universities allowed to redirect reallocated DEI funds toward scholarships or tuition reductions. The bill requires annual compliance reporting from universities and establishes legal enforcement mechanisms for violations. This directly affects Mississippi's public universities, faculty, staff, and students by changing how admissions and hiring are conducted.