HB221 • 2026

Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts; allow to speak to students regarding civic involvement, with principal's approval.

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO PERMIT THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO SPEAK WITH STUDENTS ABOUT CIVIC INVOLVEMENT AND THEIR PARTICIPATION; TO PROVIDE A PROCESS FOR APPROVAL OF REQUESTS TO SPEAK WITH STUDENTS; TO REQUIRE PARENTS TO BE NOTIFIED OF SUCH PRESENTATIONS BY THE BOY SCOUTS OR GIRL SCOUTS; TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE SPECIFIED INFORMATION TO CERTAIN PARENTS OR STUDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER SAFETY EDUCATION COURSES AND SWIMMING LESSONS; TO REQUIRE THE INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY OR IN HARD COPY AND INCLUDE LOCAL OPTIONS FOR AGE-APPROPRIATE WATER SAFETY COURSES AND SWIMMING LESSONS THAT RESULT IN CERTIFICATION INDICATING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION; TO DEFINE THE TERM "WATER SAFETY"; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education Parental Rights

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass in its session and therefore has no legal effect.

Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts Allowed to Speak to Students About Civic Involvement

This bill allows school principals to permit the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the United States to speak with students about civic involvement, requires a process for approval and notification, and mandates schools to provide information on water safety education.

What This Bill Does

Allows representatives from the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the United States to talk to students in public and charter schools about civic engagement and how to join their organizations.
Requires these groups to get written approval from school principals before speaking with students, specifying when and where they can speak.
Requires parents or guardians to be notified at least three days before any presentation by the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.
Requires public schools to provide information on water safety education courses and swimming lessons for new students and their parents.

Who It Names or Affects

School principals
Students in public and charter schools
Parents of enrolled students
Representatives from the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the United States

Terms To Know

water safety: Education aimed at promoting safety around water to prevent injury or drowning.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was not enacted.
It includes requirements that would take effect on July 1, 2026, but since the bill did not pass, these provisions are not in place.
Details about how schools will provide water safety information to parents or students remain unspecified.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-07 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/07 (H) Referred To Education

Official Summary Text

Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts; allow to speak to students regarding civic involvement, with principal's approval.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 221 *HR43/R55* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R55
PAGE 1 (DJ\KP)

To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Scoggin

HOUSE BILL NO. 221

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO PERMIT THE BOY 1
SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF 2
AMERICA TO SPEAK WITH STUDENTS ABOUT CIVIC INVOLVEMENT AND THEIR 3
PARTICIPATION; TO PROVIDE A PROCESS FOR APPROVAL OF REQUESTS TO 4
SPEAK WITH STUDENTS; TO REQUIRE PARENTS TO BE NOTIFIED OF SUCH 5
PRESENTATIONS BY THE BOY SCOUTS OR GIRL SCOUTS; TO REQUIRE PUBLIC 6
SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE SPECIFIED INFORMATION TO CERTAIN PARENTS OR 7
STUDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER SAFETY EDUCATION COURSES AND 8
SWIMMING LESSONS; TO REQUIRE THE INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED 9
ELECTRONICALLY OR IN HARD COPY AND INCLUDE LOCAL OPTIONS FOR 10
AGE-APPROPRIATE WATER SAFETY COURSES AND SWIMMING LESSONS THAT 11
RESULT IN CERTIFICATION INDICATING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION; TO 12
DEFINE THE TERM "WATER SAFETY"; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 13
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 14
SECTION 1. (1) Representatives of the Boy Scouts of America 15
and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America shall be 16
allowed the opportunity to speak with students at public schools 17
and charter schools in the State of Mississippi about the civic 18
involvement of the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts, and to explain 19
how students may participate or join the Boy Scouts or the Girl 20
Scouts. 21
(2) Before addressing the student body of a public school or 22
charter school, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts shall submit a 23
H. B. No. 221 *HR43/R55* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R55
PAGE 2 (DJ\KP)

written request to the principal of the school to speak to the 24
students enrolled therein. The principal shall provide written 25
approval to the requesting Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts 26
representative of the manner, date and time for the Boy Scouts or 27
Girl Scouts, or both, to speak with the students. Additionally, 28
the principal shall inform parents of the presentation at least 29
three (3) days before its scheduled occurrence, and shall include 30
the manner by which students will be addressed, as well as the 31
date and time of the presentation. 32
SECTION 2. (1) For the purposes of this section, the term 33
"water safety" means age-appropriate education intended to promote 34
safety in, on, and around bodies of water and reduce the risk of 35
injury or drowning. 36
(2) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each public 37
school shall provide, to a parent who initially enrolls his or her 38
child in the school, information on the important role water 39
safety education courses and swimming lessons play in saving 40
lives. The information must be provided electronically or in hard 41
copy and must include local options for age-appropriate water 42
safety courses and swimming lessons that result in a certificate 43
indicating successful completion, including courses and lessons 44
offered for free or at a reduced price. If the student is 45
eighteen (18) years of age or older, or is under the age of 46
twenty-one (21) and is enrolling in adult education classes, the 47
information must be provided to the student. 48
H. B. No. 221 *HR43/R55* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R55
PAGE 3 (DJ\KP)
ST: Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts; allow to speak
to students regarding civic involvement, with
principal's approval.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 49
and after July 1, 2026. 50