Economic and Workforce Development

This bill creates the Mississippi Office of Apprenticeship within the Mississippi Department of Employment Security to support and coordinate apprenticeship programs statewide. It establishes an advisory Apprenticeship Council to guide the office and defines key terms like "apprentice" and "apprenticeship program" for clarity. The office will develop rules, provide technical assistance to employers, and promote apprenticeship opportunities - without requiring programs or sponsors to register with the office. This structure aims to strengthen workforce development by standardizing apprenticeship systems across Mississippi.

Notified of Approval

HB 338 creates the "2026 Construction Training Assistance Fund" by redirecting a portion of Mississippi's state sales tax revenue into a new special fund. The bill directs the Mississippi Office of Workforce Development to provide grants to public community colleges, junior colleges, and K-12 school systems to cover costs for construction industry training programs for students. These grants will help institutions pay for training materials, instructor fees, and student participation in construction-related coursework, with funds administered through the Department of Employment Security. The legislation specifically modifies existing tax distribution rules to establish this dedicated funding stream for workforce development in the construction sector.

SB 2672 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing sections of Mississippi's information technology code. It moves multiple pre-existing sections (like those defining the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services and procurement terms) to new positions within the code, without changing their content or policy requirements. The bill explicitly states it makes only "technical, nonsubstantive" changes to code structure, such as updating section numbers for clarity or future amendments. No new policies, affected groups, or substantive changes to IT services or agency responsibilities are introduced.

SB 2419 authorizes Mississippi's Office of Workforce Development to create and manage a childcare tuition assistance program for state employees. The bill directly affects state employees who need childcare, providing financial support to cover their children's childcare costs. Key provisions require the Office of Workforce Development to implement this program as part of its existing duties under workforce development law. The program aims to support state workers by reducing childcare expenses, aligning with broader workforce support initiatives. This is a concrete policy change focused on employee benefits, not a procedural measure.