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HB1561 • 2026

South Mississippi Career Exploration Pilot Program; establish.

AN ACT TO CREATE THE SOUTH MISSISSIPPI CAREER EXPLORATION PILOT PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM, IF APPROPRIATED, SHALL BE FROM THE EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT FUND; TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH IS TO ENHANCE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 12; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PILOT PROGRAM SHALL BE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN JACKSON, GEORGE AND GREENE COUNTIES AND SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH CAREER COACHES SERVING SUCH COUNTIES; TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDING TO UNITED WAY OF JACKSON, GEORGE AND GREENE COUNTIES, WHICH SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUNDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CAREER COACHES SERVING THOSE COUNTIES; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN REPORTING BE PROVIDED BY UNITED WAY CONCERNING THE PILOT PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education Technology
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Zuber
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass in its current session, so specific details such as reporting requirements are speculative without further legislative action.

South Mississippi Career Exploration Pilot Program

This bill proposes a pilot program to enhance college and career readiness for students in grades 6 through 12 in Jackson, George, and Greene counties by providing access to technology-based career exploration and training.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the South Mississippi Career Exploration Pilot Program to help students from grades 6 through 12.
  • Provides funding from the Education Enhancement Fund if approved by the Legislature.
  • Uses career coaches in Jackson, George, and Greene counties to run the program.
  • Requires United Way of those three counties to manage the funds for the benefit of the career coaches.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Students in grades 6 through 12 in Jackson, George, and Greene counties.
  • Career coaches who will help students learn about different careers.
  • United Way of Jackson, George, and Greene Counties which will manage the funds for the program.

Terms To Know

Education Enhancement Fund
A fund used by the state to improve education programs.
Career Coaches
People who help students learn about different careers and plan for their future.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass, so it is unclear if or when the program will start.
  • Funding depends on approval by the Legislature.
  • Details of how the funds are used must be reported to ensure they follow state laws and guidelines.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To Workforce Development;Appropriations A

Official Summary Text

South Mississippi Career Exploration Pilot Program; establish.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1561 *HR43/R2169* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R2169
PAGE 1 (OM\KP)

To: Workforce Development;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Zuber

HOUSE BILL NO. 1561

AN ACT TO CREATE THE SOUTH MISSISSIPPI CAREER EXPLORATION 1
PILOT PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM, IF 2
APPROPRIATED, SHALL BE FROM THE EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT FUND; TO 3
PROVIDE THE PURPOSE OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH IS TO ENHANCE 4
COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 12; 5
TO PROVIDE THAT THE PILOT PROGRAM SHALL BE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL 6
DISTRICTS IN JACKSON, GEORGE AND GREENE COUNTIES AND SHALL BE 7
IMPLEMENTED THROUGH CAREER COACHES SERVING SUCH COUNTIES; TO 8
DISTRIBUTE FUNDING TO UNITED WAY OF JACKSON, GEORGE AND GREENE 9
COUNTIES, WHICH SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUNDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE 10
CAREER COACHES SERVING THOSE COUNTIES; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN 11
REPORTING BE PROVIDED BY UNITED WAY CONCERNING THE PILOT PROGRAM; 12
AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 13
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 14
SECTION 1. (1) Subject to appropriation by the 15
Legislature, from and after July 1, 2026, monies available in 16
the Education Enhancement Fund, created pursuant to Section 17
27-65-75, may be used to establish the South Mississippi 18
Career Exploration Pilot Program. 19
(2) The purpose of the pilot program is to enhance college 20
and career readiness for students enrolled in grades 6-12 by 21
providing access to immersive, technology based career exploration 22
H. B. No. 1561 *HR43/R2169* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R2169
PAGE 2 (OM\KP)

and career training coursework aligned with academic instruction 23
and regional workforce demand. 24
(3) Participation in the pilot program shall be limited to 25
public school districts located in Jackson, George, and Greene 26
Counties, and the program shall be implemented through the career 27
coaches serving those counties. 28
(4) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, Education 29
Enhancement Fund monies appropriated for the pilot program shall 30
be distributed to United Way of Jackson, George and Greene 31
Counties, which shall administer the funds for the benefit of the 32
career coaches serving Jackson, George, and Greene Counties. 33
(5) Funds awarded under this section may be used for, but 34
are not limited to, the following purposes: 35
(a) Instructional technology platforms providing career 36
exploration or career training coursework, including immersive or 37
virtual reality based platforms such as Transfr or a substantially 38
similar platform; 39
(b) Equipment, headsets, hardware, and peripherals 40
necessary to deploy such coursework in classroom, counseling, or 41
school based settings; 42
(c) Professional development and training for career 43
coaches, teachers, counselors, and administrators supporting the 44
pilot program; and 45
(d) Reasonable administrative, evaluation, and 46
reporting costs directly related to the pilot program. 47
H. B. No. 1561 *HR43/R2169* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R2169
PAGE 3 (OM\KP)
ST: South Mississippi Career Exploration Pilot
Program; establish.
(6) United Way of Jackson, George and Greene Counties shall 48
administer funds in compliance with applicable state laws and 49
generally accepted accounting principles and shall ensure that 50
funds are used solely for purposes authorized under this section. 51
(7) Implementation of the pilot program may include 52
coordination with public school districts, community colleges, 53
local employers, and other regional partners to support career 54
pathway alignment; however, no such coordination shall be 55
construed to require approval by any state agency as a condition 56
of program implementation. 57
(8) No later than December 1, 2027, United Way of Jackson, 58
George and Greene Counties shall submit a written report to the 59
Chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committees detailing: 60
(a) Participating school districts and schools; 61
(b) Utilization of funds by county career coaches; 62
(c) Student participation levels; 63
(d) Observed outcomes related to student career 64
awareness and readiness; and 65
(e) Recommendations regarding continuation or expansion 66
of the pilot program. 67
(9) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2028. 68
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 69
and after July 1, 2026. 70