HB1591 • 2026

Driver education; require students to participate in training program.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-25-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2028-2029 SCHOOL YEAR, PUPILS IN GRADES 9 THROUGH 12 INCLUSIVE AND ENROLLED IN A DAY SECONDARY SCHOOL IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN DRIVER EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN A DRIVER EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM MAINTAINED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify how schools will fund or implement the new requirements starting in 2028-2029.

Driver Education Requirement for High School Students

This bill would require high school students to complete a driver education program starting with the 2028-2029 school year.

What This Bill Does

Requires all pupils in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in day secondary schools to participate in a driver education and training program maintained by their school district, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year.

Who It Names or Affects

High school students in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in day secondary schools.
School districts required to establish and maintain driver education programs for these students.

Terms To Know

Certificate of Completion: A document issued by a school district to a student who successfully completes the driver education program.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was referred to committee where it died.
It is unclear how schools will fund or implement these new requirements starting in 2028-2029.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (H) Referred To Education

Official Summary Text

Driver education; require students to participate in training program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 1591 *HR43/R1801* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1801
PAGE 1 (BS\KP)

To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Nelson

HOUSE BILL NO. 1591

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-25-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2028-2029 SCHOOL YEAR, PUPILS IN 2
GRADES 9 THROUGH 12 INCLUSIVE AND ENROLLED IN A DAY SECONDARY 3
SCHOOL IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN 4
DRIVER EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO 5
PARTICIPATE IN A DRIVER EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM MAINTAINED 6
BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. Section 37-25-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 9
amended as follows: 10
37-25-3. (1) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the 11
school board of any school district maintaining a secondary school 12
which includes any of the grades nine (9) through twelve (12) 13
inclusive, shall establish and maintain driver education and 14
training programs for pupils enrolled in the day secondary schools 15
in that district. 16
(2) Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, every pupil 17
enrolled in a day secondary school in a district described in 18
subsection (1) of this section in any of the grades nine (9) 19
through twelve (12) inclusive, shall be required to participate in 20
H. B. No. 1591 *HR43/R1801* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1801
PAGE 2 (BS\KP)
ST: Driver education; require students to
participate in training program.
a driver education and training program maintained by the school 21
district. Upon satisfactory completion of the driver education 22
and training program, the school district shall issue a 23
Certificate of Completion to the pupil and deliver a copy of the 24
certificate to the State Department of Education. 25
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 26
and after July 1, 2026. 27