Student enrollment; require automobile registration as proof of residency.

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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Remak, Hall, Harris,
Keen, Owen

HOUSE BILL NO. 389
(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-15-30, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REQUIRE THE USE OF AUTOMOBILE REGISTRATIONS AS PROOF OF 2
RESIDENCY WHEN ENROLLING STUDENTS IN SCHOOL; TO REQUIRE PARENTS OR 3
LEGAL GUARDIANS WHO DO NOT OWN A VEHICLE TO SUBMIT A SIGNED 4
AFFIDAVIT, ATTESTING THAT NO MOTOR VEHICLE IS OWNED AND AFFIRMING 5
THE STUDENT'S ACTUAL RESIDENCE AT THE STATED ADDRESS WITHIN THE 6
ENROLLING SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. Section 37-15-30, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 9
amended as follows: 10
37-15-30. (1) Notwithstanding any provision of law, a pupil 11
complies with the residency requirements for school attendance in 12
a school district if the parent of the pupil is transferred to, or 13
is pending transfer to, a military installation within this state 14
while on active military duty pursuant to an official military 15
order. 16
(2) A school district shall accept an application for 17
enrollment and course registration by electronic means for a pupil 18
who meets the requirements prescribed in subsection (1) of this 19
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section, including enrollment in a specific school or program 20
within the school district. 21
(3) The parent of a pupil who meets the requirement 22
prescribed in subsection (1) of this section shall provide proof 23
of residence to the school district within ten (10) days after the 24
published arrival date provided on official documentation * * *, 25
in the following manners: 26
(a) The parent may use the address of any of the 27
following as proof of residence for the purposes of this 28
subsection: 29
( * * *i) A temporary on-base billeting 30
facility * * *; 31
( * * *ii) A purchased or leased home or 32
apartment * * *; or 33
( * * *iii) Any federal government housing or 34
off-base military housing, including off-base military housing 35
that may be provided through a public-private venture * * *; and 36
(b) (i) To further establish proof of residence, the 37
parent or legal guardian with whom the student resides may provide 38
a current, valid Mississippi automobile registration issued in the 39
name of the parent or legal guardian and reflecting the 40
residential address at which the student resides. The automobile 41
registration shall constitute acceptable proof of residence, 42
subject to verification by the school district. 43
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ST: Student enrollment; require automobile
registration as proof of residency.
(ii) If the parent or legal guardian with whom the 44
student resides does not own a motor vehicle, he or she shall 45
submit a signed affidavit, under penalty of perjury, attesting 46
that no motor vehicle is owned and affirming the student's actual 47
residence at the stated address within the enrolling school 48
district. The school district may require the submission of any 49
additional documentation it deems necessary to accurately verify 50
residency, including, but not limited to, utility bills, lease or 51
rental agreements, mortgage statements, property tax receipts, 52
voter registration records and precinct identification, government 53
benefit correspondence or other reliable evidence of domicile 54
within the enrolling school district. 55
(4) For the purposes of this section: 56
(a) "Active military duty" means full-time military 57
duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, 58
including members of the National Guard and the State Military 59
Reserve on active duty orders. 60
(b) "Military installation" means a base, camp, post, 61
station, yard, center, homeport facility for any ship, or other 62
installation under the jurisdiction of the United States 63
Department of Defense or the United States Coast Guard. 64
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 65
and after July 1, 2026. 66