Did not become law. It stopped in the House of Representatives's Education Committee on February 3, 2026.
2026 Regular Session
House Bill 1474
"Released-Time Moral Instruction Act of 2026"; enact to permit students to receive religious instruction during the school day.
What it does
The synopsis the Legislature published with the bill.
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION ACT OF 2026"; TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO PERMIT THE RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION OF PUPILS; TO PERMIT SCHOOL BOARDS TO COMPLETE A SURVEY TO DETERMINE PUPILS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO DESIRE RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION AND WHO HAVE RECEIVED CONSENT FROM THEIR PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN FOR SUCH INSTRUCTION; TO REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS TO ALLOW THOSE STUDENTS DESIRING RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION TO PARTICIPATE IN OFF-SITE FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR, ONE DAY EACH WEEK; TO PROHIBIT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM PROVIDING OR FACILITATING RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION ON SCHOOL PREMISES; TO PERMIT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE PERSONS IN CHARGE OF THE RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION AS THE BOARD DEEMS NECESSARY AND ADVISABLE; TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS SHALL NOT BE PENALIZED OR CONSIDERED ABSENT FROM THE SCHOOL FOR PURPOSES OF ATTENDING RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION SHALL CONTINUE IN THE REGULAR COURSE OF DAILY INSTRUCTION; TO PROVIDE THAT RELEASED-TIME MORAL INSTRUCTION SHALL BE GIVEN WITHOUT EXPENSE TO ANY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD BEYOND THE COST OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY; TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-91, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Sponsors
Who carried the bill in each chamber, and who signed on. Each name leads to the member's page.
In the House of Representatives
Sponsor
Its course
January 19 to February 3, 2026, on one scale. In the top row each mark is a day something happened; taller marks are busier days.
Each committee stop sits inside its chamber.
Every action2 actions on 2 days
In the House of RepresentativesJan 19 to Feb 3 · stopped15 days
EducationJan 19 to Feb 3 · stopped15 days
Text
Each version as the Legislature printed it.
l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.
What happened
In l9n's words, one line for each step. Every action as the Legislature published it is below.