Pledge of Allegiance; require that public school students recite at the beginning of each school day.

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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Currie

HOUSE BILL NO. 310

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
REQUIRE THE RECITATION OF THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF 2
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST HOUR OF 3
EACH DAY SCHOOL IS IN SESSION FOR ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION; TO BRING 4
FORWARD SECTION 37-13-6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE 5
OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. Section 37-13-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 8
amended as follows: 9
37-13-7. (1) The boards of trustees of the public schools 10
of this state shall require the teachers under their control to 11
have all pupils repeat the oath of allegiance to the flag of the 12
United States of America * * * at the beginning of the first hour 13
of each day school is in session for academic instruction, such 14
oath of allegiance being as follows: 15
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of 16
America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under 17
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." 18
(2) The official pledge of the State of Mississippi shall 19
read as follows: 20
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"I salute the flag of Mississippi and the sovereign state for 21
which it stands with pride in her history and achievements and 22
with confidence in her future under the guidance of Almighty God." 23
The pledge of allegiance to the Mississippi flag shall be 24
taught in the public schools of this state, along with the pledge 25
of allegiance to the United States flag. 26
SECTION 2. Section 37-13-6, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 27
brought forward as follows: 28
37-13-6. (1) The flag of the United States shall be 29
displayed in close proximity to the school building, on a proper 30
staff, at all times during the hours of daylight when the school 31
is in session when the weather will permit without damage to the 32
flag. In addition, the flag of the United States shall be 33
displayed in each classroom and in each principal room of the 34
school building at all times while school is in session. It shall 35
be the duty of the school boards of each school district to 36
provide for the flags, proper flag staffs and their proper 37
display. Each school district shall provide student instruction 38
in the proper etiquette toward, correct display of, and respect 39
for the flag, and in patriotic exercises. The instruction shall 40
be a part of the district's fifth grade social studies curriculum 41
or history curriculum, with the assistance of the State Department 42
of Education. 43
(2) From and after July 1, 2002, the school boards of all 44
public schools of this state shall require the teachers under 45
H. B. No. 310 *HR43/R749* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Pledge of Allegiance; require that public
school students recite at the beginning of each
school day.
their control to have all pupils repeat the oath of allegiance to 46
the flag of the United States of America at the beginning of the 47
first hour of class each day school is in session, such oath of 48
allegiance being as follows: 49
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of 50
America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under 51
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." 52
Any student or teacher who objects to reciting the oath of 53
allegiance shall be excused from participating without penalty. 54
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 55
and after July 1, 2026. 56