HB242 • 2026

School social workers and psychologists; authorize districts to employ and receive partial state reimbursement for salaries of.

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO EMPLOY LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS AND LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT EMPLOYS AT LEAST ONE SOCIAL WORKER OR PSYCHOLOGIST FOR EVERY ONE THOUSAND STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOLS OF THE DISTRICT IS ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR FIFTY PERCENT OF THE COST OF THE SALARY OF EACH SOCIAL WORKER OR PSYCHOLOGIST FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education Labor

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee, so it will not take effect as described.

School Social Workers and Psychologists Act

This bill allows local school boards to hire licensed social workers and psychologists for students and provides partial state funding for their salaries.

What This Bill Does

Allows school districts to employ licensed social workers and psychologists to help students.
Provides that if a district hires at least one social worker or psychologist for every 1,000 students, it can get state money to cover half their salaries.

Who It Names or Affects

Local school boards
Licensed social workers and psychologists
Public schools

Terms To Know

Reimbursement: Money given back to a district by the state for part of the cost of hiring social workers or psychologists.
Licensed: Having official permission from the government to work as a professional, like a social worker or psychologist.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee.
It is unclear how many districts will actually hire more social workers or psychologists because of this bill.
There are no details on how the state will fund the reimbursement program.

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;Appropriations A

Official Summary Text

School social workers and psychologists; authorize districts to employ and receive partial state reimbursement for salaries of.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 242 *HR31/R369* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR31/R369
PAGE 1 (DJ\JAB)

To: Education;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Clark

HOUSE BILL NO. 242

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO EMPLOY LICENSED 1
SOCIAL WORKERS AND LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO 2
STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT 3
THAT EMPLOYS AT LEAST ONE SOCIAL WORKER OR PSYCHOLOGIST FOR EVERY 4
ONE THOUSAND STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOLS OF THE DISTRICT IS 5
ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR FIFTY PERCENT OF THE COST OF THE 6
SALARY OF EACH SOCIAL WORKER OR PSYCHOLOGIST FROM THE STATE 7
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. (1) The school board of a school district may 10
employ licensed social workers and licensed psychologists to 11
provide services to students enrolled in and in attendance at the 12
schools of the school district, as determined by the 13
superintendent of the district. The school board shall fix the 14
compensation of a social worker or psychologist employed by the 15
district under this section. 16
(2) A school district that employs at least one (1) social 17
worker or psychologist for every one thousand (1,000) students 18
enrolled in the schools of the district is eligible for 19
reimbursement for fifty percent (50%) of the cost of the salary of 20
each social worker or psychologist from the State Department of 21
H. B. No. 242 *HR31/R369* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R369
PAGE 2 (DJ\JAB)
ST: School social workers and psychologists;
authorize districts to employ and receive
partial state reimbursement for salaries of.
Education. The superintendent of any school district that is 22
eligible for the reimbursement under this section shall apply to 23
the State Department of Education for the reimbursement in a 24
manner prescribed by the department. After receipt of an 25
application for reimbursement and any information that may be 26
required by the department, the department shall pay to the school 27
district an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the cost of the 28
salary of each social worker and psychologist for whom the 29
district is eligible to be reimbursed. In making reimbursements 30
to school districts for employing social workers and 31
psychologists, the department may use any funds specifically made 32
available for that purpose. 33
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 34
and after July 1, 2026. 35