"2026 Mississippi Youthbuild Pilot Program Act"; create with programs at Coahoma and Jones County Community Colleges.

HB 218 establishes a two-year pilot program at Coahoma Community College and Jones County Junior College to serve low-income youth who have dropped out of high school. The program provides integrated education (including high school equivalency courses) and construction training, with 50% of time spent on classroom instruction and 50% on hands-on housing rehabilitation projects for low-income households and special needs populations. Colleges must secure federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, with Mississippi’s Department of Human Services providing 25% matching funds. The program requires annual reporting to the legislature by 2029 to assess its effectiveness in improving participants’ economic self-sufficiency and community impact.