Students of active duty service members and civilian personnel; clarify "active duty" status for purpose of school enrollment and transfers.
HB 809 clarifies Mississippi's school enrollment rules for children of military families. It allows children of active duty U.S. military members (including Guard/Reserve members on 180+ consecutive days of duty) and civilian military personnel living on bases to enroll in any public school district or campus, regardless of their family's residence. To qualify, parents must provide a Department of Defense ID and a "Statement of Service" from a commanding officer. The bill also specifies that families may transfer schools only once per academic year and do not need to reapply for continued enrollment after the initial transfer. This directly affects military-connected students and their families seeking school enrollment flexibility.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 7, 2025
Signed Apr 17, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
As Passed the lower
→
Current version
·
4 edits
MODERATE
HB 809 was amended to expand eligibility for school enrollment preferences to include Active Guard and Reserve duty members, while narrowing active duty definitions to exclude inactive training periods. The bill also updated documentation requirements for service members enrolling their children in schools of choice.
Scope change
Expanded eligibility from active duty and Mississippi National Guard members to include active duty, active guard and reserve duty members of all US military branches, while excluding those on inactive duty training.
ELIGIBILITY
Expanded eligibility to include Active Guard and Reserve duty members of the US Armed Forces, not just active duty members and Mississippi National Guard members.
Narrowed active duty definition to exclude personnel performing inactive duty training.
DEFINITION
Added new definition for 'Active Guard and Reserve duty' requiring 180 consecutive days of active duty or full-time National Guard duty.
REQUIREMENT
Updated documentation requirements to include proof of Active Guard and Reserve duty status alongside active duty proof.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025 · House Feb 6, 2025
How they voted
50–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 51
Mar 6, 2025
D
Democratic16
100% Yea
R
Republican35
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Apr 17, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor
executive
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference Report Adopted
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference Report Filed
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed As Amended
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass As Amended
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
Referred To Education
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Introduced
Transmitted To Senate
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
Referred To Education
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Kevin Felsher
RRepublican
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