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To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Rosebud
HOUSE BILL NO. 1565
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
PROVIDE CERTAIN EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR A PERSON SEEKING A 2
DRIVER'S LICENSE ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2026; AND FOR RELATED 3
PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 63-1-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
63-1-9. (1) No driver's license or learner's permit shall 8
be issued pursuant to this article: 9
(a) To any person under the age of eighteen (18) years 10
except as provided in this article. 11
(b) To any person whose license to operate a motor 12
vehicle on the highways of Mississippi has been previously revoked 13
or suspended by this state or any other state or territory of the 14
United States or the District of Columbia, if the revocation or 15
suspension period has not expired. 16
(c) To any person who is an habitual drunkard or who is 17
addicted to the use of other narcotic drugs. 18
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(d) To any person who would not be able by reason of 19
physical or mental disability to operate a motor vehicle on the 20
highways with safety. However, persons who have one (1) arm or 21
leg, or have arms or legs deformed, and are driving a car provided 22
with mechanical devices whereby the person is able to drive in a 23
safe manner over the highways, if otherwise qualified, shall 24
receive an operator's license the same as other persons. 25
Moreover, deafness shall not be a bar to obtaining a license. 26
(e) To any person as an operator who has previously 27
been adjudged to be afflicted with and suffering from any mental 28
disability and who has not at time of application been restored to 29
mental competency. 30
(f) To any person under the age of eighteen (18) years 31
who does not at the time of application present a diploma or other 32
certificate of high school graduation or a general educational 33
development certificate issued to the person in this state or any 34
other state; or on whose behalf documentation has not been 35
received by the Department of Public Safety from that person or a 36
school official verifying that the person: 37
(i) Is enrolled and making satisfactory progress 38
in a course leading to a general educational development 39
certificate; 40
(ii) Is enrolled in school in this state or any 41
other state; 42
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(iii) Is enrolled in a "nonpublic school," as such 43
term is defined in Section 37-13-91(2)(i); or 44
(iv) Is unable to attend any school program due to 45
circumstances deemed acceptable as set out in Section 63-1-10. 46
(g) To any person under the age of eighteen (18) years 47
who has been convicted under Section 63-11-30. 48
(h) Beginning on July 1, * * * 2026, to any person who 49
has not previously obtained a driver's license unless that person 50
has successfully completed a Driver Education and Training Program 51
certified by the State Board of Education or the Department of 52
Public Safety that includes actual driving experience and general 53
education regarding the essential knowledge and skills for safe 54
driving; provided * * * that a person under the age of eighteen 55
(18) shall be able to receive a learner's permit as otherwise 56
provided in this article. 57
(2) All permits and licenses issued to an individual under 58
the age of eighteen (18) shall be issued as follows: 59
(a) A learner's permit may be issued to any person who 60
is at least fifteen (15) years of age who otherwise meets the 61
requirements of this article. 62
(b) A driver's license may be issued to any person who 63
is at least sixteen (16) years of age who otherwise meets the 64
requirements of this article and who has held a learner's permit 65
for at least one (1) year without any conviction under Section 66
63-11-30 or of a moving violation. Any conviction under Section 67
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63-11-30 or of a moving violation shall restart the one-year 68
requirement for the holding of a learner's permit before an 69
applicant can qualify for a driver's license. 70
(c) An applicant for a driver's license who was unable 71
to make timely application for a learner's permit may have the 72
period in which he or she was eligible but unable to apply due to 73
a hardship credited toward the one-year requirement for the 74
holding of a learner's permit. The Department of Public Safety 75
shall set forth the criteria for which a hardship exception may be 76
granted, at the discretion of the department, to any individual 77
who has completed a Driver Education and Training Program 78
certified by the Board of Education or the Department of Public 79
Safety. 80
(d) An applicant for a Mississippi driver's license 81
who, at the time of application, is at least sixteen (16) years of 82
age and who has held a valid motor vehicle driver's license issued 83
by another state for at least six (6) months shall not be required 84
to hold a learner's permit before being issued a driver's license. 85
(e) In addition to the restrictions set forth in 86
Section 63-1-21(3), the commissioner may establish rules, 87
regulations and restrictions for the operation of a motor vehicle 88
during the first twelve (12) months that an individual under the 89
age of eighteen (18) possesses a license. 90
(f) Beginning July 1, 2026, the Department of Public 91
Safety shall establish a Driver Education and Training Program to 92
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ST: Driver education; require driving
experience to be included in as a requirement
for issuance of driver's license.
be taught throughout the state and made available for home school 93
students and adults who have not otherwise taken a driver's 94
education course. Upon completion of the course, each participant 95
shall be issued a Certificate of Completion, and a record of the 96
certificate shall be delivered to the Mississippi Driver Service 97
Bureau. 98
(3) The commissioner shall ensure that the learner's permit 99
and driver's license issued under this article are clear, distinct 100
and easily distinguishable from one another. 101
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 102
and after July 1, 2026. 103