Mental Health First Aid Training; require for instructional and administrative personnel employed by public school districts.

HB 315 requires all licensed and non-licensed instructional staff and licensed administrators in Mississippi public schools to complete evidence-based mental health first aid training approved by the state Department of Mental Health before the 2026-2027 school year begins. School boards must develop policies for how often this training is repeated, and the Department of Mental Health will issue certificates of completion that staff can use to meet professional development requirements. The bill directly affects over 100,000 school employees across Mississippi’s public school districts. It establishes a concrete training mandate with a specific deadline and creates a standardized certification system for staff to document compliance.