KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Mississippi

HB306 • 2026

Corporal punishment; prohibit in public and charter schools.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-57, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY EMPLOYEE WHO VIOLATES THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT PROHIBITION SHALL BE HELD LIABLE FOR CIVIL DAMAGES SUFFERED BY A STUDENT AS A RESULT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT; 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
Mickens
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on what constitutes excessive force or cruel and unusual punishment, which are mentioned in the existing text but not defined.

Ban on Corporal Punishment in Schools

This bill aims to stop the use of corporal punishment in public and charter schools in Mississippi.

What This Bill Does

  • Bans teachers, assistants, principals, and assistant principals from using corporal punishment in public or charter schools.
  • Makes employees who break this rule responsible for any harm caused to students as a result of corporal punishment.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Students in public and charter schools
  • Teachers, assistants, principals, and assistant principals

Terms To Know

Corporal punishment
The reasonable use of physical force or contact by school staff to maintain discipline, enforce rules, for self-protection, or protect other students.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
  • It would have taken effect on July 1, 2026, if passed.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-08 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/08 (H) Referred To Education

Official Summary Text

Corporal punishment; prohibit in public and charter schools.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 306 *HR31/R88* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR31/R88
PAGE 1 (DJ\JAB)

To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Mickens

HOUSE BILL NO. 306

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-57, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN PUBLIC AND CHARTER 2
SCHOOLS; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY EMPLOYEE WHO VIOLATES THE CORPORAL 3
PUNISHMENT PROHIBITION SHALL BE HELD LIABLE FOR CIVIL DAMAGES 4
SUFFERED BY A STUDENT AS A RESULT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF 5
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. Section 37-11-57, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 8
amended as follows: 9
37-11-57. (1) Except in the case of excessive force or 10
cruel and unusual punishment, a public school teacher, assistant 11
teacher, principal, or an assistant principal acting within the 12
course and scope of his employment shall not be liable for any 13
action carried out in conformity with state or federal law or 14
rules or regulations of the State Board of Education or the local 15
school board or governing board of a charter school regarding the 16
control, discipline, suspension and expulsion of students. The 17
local school board shall provide any necessary legal defense to a 18
teacher, assistant teacher, principal, or assistant principal in 19
the school district who was acting within the course and scope of 20
H. B. No. 306 *HR31/R88* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R88
PAGE 2 (DJ\JAB)
ST: Corporal punishment; prohibit in public and
charter schools.
his employment in any action which may be filed against such 21
school personnel. A school district or charter school, as the 22
case may be, shall be entitled to reimbursement for legal fees and 23
expenses from its employee if a court finds that the act of the 24
employee was outside the course and scope of his employment, or 25
that the employee was acting with criminal intent. Any action by 26
a school district or charter school against its employee and any 27
action by the employee against the school district or charter 28
school for necessary legal fees and expenses shall be tried to the 29
court in the same suit brought against the school employee. 30
(2) Corporal punishment is prohibited from being 31
administered in * * * any * * * public or charter school * * *. 32
* * * Any public school or charter school teacher, assistant 33
teacher, principal or assistant principal * * * who violates this 34
subsection shall be held liable in a suit for civil damages 35
alleged to have been suffered by a student as a result of the 36
administration of corporal punishment * * *. For the purposes of 37
this subsection, "corporal punishment" means the reasonable use of 38
physical force or physical contact by a teacher, assistant 39
teacher, principal or assistant principal * * * to maintain 40
discipline, to enforce a school rule, for self-protection or for 41
the protection of other students from disruptive students. 42
* * * 43
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 44
and after July 1, 2026. 45