Did not become law. It stopped in the House of Representatives's Education Committee on February 3, 2026.
2026 Regular Session
House Bill 659
Public schools; allow to employ or accept the service of chaplains.
What it does
The synopsis the Legislature published with the bill.
AN ACT TO ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO EMPLOY OR ACCEPT AS A VOLUNTEER, A CHAPLAIN TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, SERVICES AND PROGRAMS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL; TO REQUIRE EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER EMPLOYING OR ALLOWING A CHAPLAIN TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO ITS STUDENTS TO UNDERGO A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK BEFORE ENTERING THE SCHOOLS TO CARRY OUT THEIR OBLIGATIONS; TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS FROM EMPLOYING OR ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDERS FROM PROVIDING SERVICES WITHIN ITS SCHOOLS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-93, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE A QUICK RESPONSE TEAM OF PERSONNEL TRAINED IN SCHOOL SAFETY AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE CHAPLAINS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-301, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FUND AND OPERATE IMPROVED SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES, INCLUDING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAINING AND PLANNING AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY CHAPLAINS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-54, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO INCORPORATE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES AND POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION SUPPORTS WHICH INCLUDE SERVICES PROVIDED BY CHAPLAINS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT WHICH MAY BE DEEMED UNCONSTITUTIONAL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Sponsors
Who carried the bill in each chamber, and who signed on. Each name leads to the member's page.
Its course
January 13 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 13 to Feb 3 · stopped21 days
EducationJan 13 to Feb 3 · stopped21 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.