Read the full stored bill text
H. B. No. 245 *HR43/R374* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R374
PAGE 1 (ELS\KP)
To: Workforce Development
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Clark
HOUSE BILL NO. 245
AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI SKILL STANDARDS BOARD AS AN 1
ADVISORY BOARD TO THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE 2
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE 3
SYSTEM OF INDUSTRY-DEFINED, INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED SKILL STANDARDS 4
AND CREDENTIALS FOR CERTAIN SKILLED OCCUPATIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR 5
THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD; TO PROVIDE THE DUTIES OF THE BOARD; 6
AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. (1) The Mississippi Skill Standards Board is 9
created as an advisory board to the Governor, the Legislature and 10
the state workforce development system for the development of a 11
statewide system of industry-defined, industry-recognized skill 12
standards and credentials for all major skilled occupations that: 13
(a) Provide strong employment and earnings 14
opportunities in the state; 15
(b) Are nationally recognized; and 16
(c) Require less than a baccalaureate degree. 17
(2) The Mississippi Skill Standards Board, hereinafter 18
referred to as the "board," is composed of thirteen (13) members 19
appointed by the Governor. The term of each board member shall 20
H. B. No. 245 *HR43/R374* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R374
PAGE 2 (ELS\KP)
run concurrently with the term of the Governor. The board 21
consists of the following members: 22
(a) Eight (8) members representing business, two (2) of 23
whom must be from business entities that employ fewer than fifty 24
(50) employees and one (1) each from the four-sector clusters as 25
defined by Innovate Mississippi; 26
(b) Two (2) members representing workers; 27
(c) One (1) member representing secondary education; 28
(d) One (1) member representing two-year public 29
postsecondary education; and 30
(e) One (1) member representing four-year public 31
postsecondary education. 32
(3) The Governor shall appoint the presiding officer of the 33
board from the members representing business. 34
(4) The board shall: 35
(a) Validate nationally established skill standards to 36
guide curriculum development, training, assessment and 37
certification of workforce skills; 38
(b) Convene industry groups to develop skill standards 39
and certification procedures for industries and occupations in 40
which standards have not been established or adopted and recognize 41
the skill standards and certification procedures; 42
(c) Review standards developed by other states and 43
nations and enter into agreements for mutual recognition of 44
credentials to enhance portability of skills; 45
H. B. No. 245 *HR43/R374* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R374
PAGE 3 (ELS\KP)
ST: Mississippi Skill Standards Board; create
as an advisory board on industry standards.
(d) Promote, in collaboration with the secondary and 46
postsecondary entities, the use of standards and credentials among 47
employers; and 48
(e) Develop a memorandum of understanding by and 49
between the workforce and education entities for the effective 50
development, implementation, operations and outcomes of the skills 51
standards effort. 52
(5) The board shall meet at the call of the presiding 53
officer as often as necessary to accomplish its work, and the 54
board shall meet a minimum of once each quarter in a fiscal year. 55
(6) A member of the board is not entitled to compensation 56
for service on the board but is entitled to reimbursement for 57
reasonable mileage and expenses incurred in performing board 58
duties as provided in Section 25-3-41. 59
(7) The Mississippi Community College Board shall provide 60
staff support for the board as necessary. 61
(8) The board shall report periodically to the Governor and 62
shall provide annual reports to the Governor, the Legislature and 63
the Mississippi Community College Board. 64
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 65
and after July 1, 2026. 66