HB 809 Mississippi House · 2025 Regular Session

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

500
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 51
Mar 6, 2025
D Democratic16
16 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican35
34 Yea 1
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
Photo of Kevin Felsher
Kevin Felsher
RRepublican
MS
117