Spouse and children of first responders killed in the line of duty; provide scholarship for attendance at postsecondary institutions.

HB 687 establishes a scholarship program for spouses and children of Mississippi first responders (including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel) who were killed or permanently disabled while on duty. The bill provides up to eight semesters of tuition-free education at any Mississippi state college or university, excluding books and fees, contingent on maintaining a 2.5 GPA and satisfactory academic progress. Eligibility excludes self-inflicted injuries or deaths, and children must not turn 23 during a semester to qualify. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, would have taken effect July 1, 2025, if passed.