Health care and education shortage assistance program; establish to help attract professionals to work in certain counties.

HB 134 would establish a program to help rural Mississippi counties with unemployment rates over 10% and current shortages of health care workers (including doctors, nurses, EMTs, and social workers) and teachers attract professionals. The program would provide a minimum of $5 million annually from the Mississippi Works Fund, requiring counties to apply with a detailed plan, adopt a resolution, and contribute 30% of the funds they receive. Counties must demonstrate both past unemployment above 10% and current shortages of targeted professionals to qualify. The bill was referred to committee but died in 2026.