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SB 2535 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

MS Future Innovators Act; enact to require high-school computer science or CTE with embedded computer science course.

SB 2535, the "MS Future Innovators Act," would require all Mississippi public high school students to earn one credit in a computer science course or a career and technical education (CTE) course with embedded computer science before graduation, starting with the 2027-2028 ninth-grade class. The bill mandates that these courses include instruction on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), covering what AI is, how it works, and its societal impact. It allows these courses to fulfill specific graduation requirements without increasing the total required credits. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and is not currently law.
Issues: ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates computer science/AI curriculum for all high school students, enhancing educational content and preparing students for emerging technologies per bill requirements.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates AI and emerging tech education in high schools, promoting digital literacy and equity through required curriculum.95% confidence
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → Current version · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill establishes a new high school graduation requirement for Mississippi students starting with the entering ninth-grade class of 2027-2028, mandating one unit of credit in either a standalone computer science course or an industry-aligned CTE course with embedded computer science instruction. The updated version clarifies that this requirement does not increase the total number of state-required credits for graduation and specifies how the credit can satisfy other graduation requirements like mathematics, science, or CTE. The bill also updates the effective date to July 1, 2025, and refines definitions related to computer science education and paraprofessional instruction.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on high school graduation requirements for computer science education, but the current version clarifies that the requirement does not increase the total number of state-required credits for graduation.
REQUIREMENT

Clarified that the new computer science graduation requirement does not increase the total number of state-required credits for graduation.

TIMELINE

Updated the effective date of the act from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2025 (no substantive change, but formatting adjusted).

DEFINITION

Refined the definition of 'Computer science courses' to explicitly include both stand-alone implementations and elementary curriculum that focuses on creating and understanding technology rather than simply using it.

Added new sub-definitions (ab, bc, cd, de) to Section 37-13-205 for clarity on computer science, computer science courses, offer, and paraprofessional roles.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2025

How they voted

51–0
Passed
Total votes 51
Feb 11, 2025
D Democratic16
16 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican35
35 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
Referred To Education;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
Transmitted To House
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Committee
Referred To Education
upper
0 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.