SB 2601 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Education Scholarship Account Program; make certain changes to.

SB 2601 would revise Mississippi's Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program by allowing parents to seek reimbursement for qualifying education expenses after a student returns to their home public school district, with unused ESA funds then transferred to that district. It removes the annual enrollment cap of 500 new students, funds accounts at the same level as public school funding, and requires participating students to take standardized assessments at the start and end of the school year. The bill also adds requirements for nonpublic schools to prove eligibility to participate and mandates schools to inform parents about alternative scholarship programs. However, the bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, so these changes have not become law.

Issues: ✓ Education

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 · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → Current version · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill title was updated from 'Committee Substitute' to 'As Passed the Senate', indicating the bill has moved forward in the legislative process. The substantive content of the act remains unchanged, as this is a procedural update reflecting the bill's current status rather than a policy modification.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect its current legislative status as 'As Passed the Senate' instead of 'Committee Substitute', indicating it has been approved by the Senate committee and is now in its final form before potential House action.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 9 edits

MAJOR

This bill amends Mississippi's Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program to allow parents to request reimbursement for qualifying expenses after a student returns to public school, removes enrollment caps and the 6% administrative fee deduction, requires standardized assessments at the start and end of the school year, and adds new requirements for eligible schools to advise parents about other scholarship options and conduct criminal background checks on employees.

Scope change

The bill expands the ESA program by removing the 500-student annual enrollment limit and eliminating the 6% administrative fee deduction from appropriations, while adding new oversight requirements for eligible schools and standardized testing protocols.

ELIGIBILITY

Parents may now request reimbursement for qualifying expenses after a student returns to public school in their home district, with remaining funds distributed to the home district.

FISCAL

The 500-student annual enrollment limit for the ESA program has been removed, allowing unlimited new enrollments subject to appropriation.

The State Department of Education's authorization to deduct up to 6% of appropriations for program administration costs has been removed.

REQUIREMENT

Participating students must take the same standardized assessment at the beginning and end of the school year, with flexibility for students with severe disabilities.

Eligible schools must advise parents of students who qualify for other scholarship programs to apply for those programs instead of the ESA.

Eligible schools must conduct criminal background checks on employees and exclude individuals who pose a threat to student safety or are prohibited by state law from working in nonpublic schools.

DEFINITION

New definitions added for 'participating student,' 'parent,' 'home school district,' 'eligible school,' 'tutor,' 'postsecondary institution,' 'educational service provider,' and 'awarded ESA school year.'

ENFORCEMENT

The State Department of Education must implement an application or authorization process to determine the eligibility of nonpublic schools to participate in the ESA program.

TIMELINE

The act takes effect on July 1, 2025, and sections 37-181-1 through 37-181-23 are scheduled for repeal on July 1, 2028.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2025

How they voted

50–1

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 11, 2025

D Democratic16

15 Yea 1 Nay

93% Yea

R Republican35

35 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Referred To Education

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Education

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors