Former Collegiate Athlete Scholarship Program; create to attract former athletes back to school for teaching degree.

HB 235 creates a scholarship program for former Mississippi college athletes who did not complete a bachelor's degree, allowing them to pursue teaching degrees at state institutions. The scholarship covers full tuition, fees, and living costs (up to the maximum state institution rate) for up to three years, but recipients must teach in Mississippi public schools for 1-5 years after graduation, depending on how many years of scholarship they received. Failure to complete the teaching obligation or the degree requires repayment plus interest at the Stafford Loan rate. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.