HB333 • 2026

State Workforce Investment Board; require to create, through Office of Workforce Development; certain list of certifications.

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD SHALL CREATE A SEPARATE LIST OF INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED HIGH VALUE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES; TO REQUIRE, SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE FUNDING, THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO PAY A CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION INCENTIVE GRANT TO CERTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Bell (21st), Anthony
Last action: 2026-02-09
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass in the current session, so it has no effective date or further details on implementation.

Creating a List of High-Value Industry Certifications for Community College Students

This bill requires the State Workforce Investment Board to create a list of high-value industry certifications for community and junior college students, and it allows the Mississippi Community College Board to give grants to colleges based on student certification achievements.

What This Bill Does

Requires the State Workforce Investment Board to make a list of important industry certifications for students in community and junior colleges.
Allows the Mississippi Community College Board to pay $600 to each college for every student who gets one of these certifications, if there is enough money available.
Ensures that no college can get extra money for certifications already earned by students before they joined the college.

Who It Names or Affects

The State Workforce Investment Board
Mississippi Community College Board
Community and junior college students in Mississippi

Terms To Know

Industry recognized high value industry certifications: Special certificates that show a person has learned skills needed for certain jobs, which are valued by businesses.
Career and technical education incentive grant: Extra money given to community colleges when their students earn important job-related certifications.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass in the current session.
It only works if there is enough funding available from the state budget.

Bill History

2026-02-09 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/09 (H) Died In Committee
2026-02-09 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/09 (H) Recommitted to Committee
2026-01-29 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/29 (H) Title Suff Do Pass As Amended
2026-01-08 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/08 (H) Referred To Workforce Development

Official Summary Text

State Workforce Investment Board; require to create, through Office of Workforce Development; certain list of certifications.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 333 *HR43/R879* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R879
PAGE 1 (ENK\KP)

To: Workforce Development
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Bell (21st), Anthony

HOUSE BILL NO. 333

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD 1
SHALL CREATE A SEPARATE LIST OF INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED HIGH VALUE 2
INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN COMMUNITY AND 3
JUNIOR COLLEGES; TO REQUIRE, SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE FUNDING, THE 4
MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO PAY A CAREER AND TECHNICAL 5
EDUCATION INCENTIVE GRANT TO CERTAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGES; AND FOR 6
RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. (1) The State Workforce Investment Board, by and 9
through the Office of Workforce Development, shall create, in 10
consultation with the Mississippi Community College Board, the 11
Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit and 12
other appropriate business and industry stakeholders, a separate 13
list of industry recognized high value industry certifications for 14
participants enrolled at Mississippi Community and Junior Colleges 15
for reimbursement from the Mississippi Community College Board, 16
pending availability of funds. This list shall align with the 17
approved State Workforce Investment Board K-12 industry 18
certification list to encourage more students to connect their 19
H. B. No. 333 *HR43/R879* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R879
PAGE 2 (ENK\KP)
ST: State Workforce Investment Board; require
to create, through Office of Workforce
Development; certain list of certifications.
secondary career preparatory work with postsecondary 20
opportunities. 21
(2) Subject to available funding beginning in fiscal year 22
2027, the Mississippi Community College Board shall pay a career 23
and technical education incentive grant to the community college 24
for each student enrolled in the community college who earns a 25
qualifying industry certification. The amount per student for the 26
career and technical education incentive grant shall be Six 27
Hundred Dollars ($600.00). The Mississippi Community College 28
Board shall ensure that no college is reimbursed for a student 29
receiving certification that has already been obtained through any 30
secondary or postsecondary institution. If the statewide sum of 31
the career and technical education incentive grants awarded 32
pursuant to this section exceeds the amount of available funds 33
appropriated for the grants, the grants per student shall be 34
reduced proportionately to cover all eligible grants under this 35
section. Any costs accrued during one (1) fiscal year may be 36
claimed and reimbursed in the following fiscal year. 37
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 38
and after July 1, 2026. 39