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HB629 • 2026

MS Rural Dentist Scholarship Program; increase number of students who may be admitted annually.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-146-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ADMITTED ANNUALLY TO THE MISSISSIPPI RURAL DENTIST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FROM THREE TO SIX; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education
Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Steverson
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify additional requirements for recruitment, enrollment, or mentorship beyond increasing the number of annual admissions from three to six.

Increase in Mississippi Rural Dentist Scholarships

This bill increases the number of students who can join the Mississippi Rural Dentist Scholarship Program each year from three to six.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law to allow up to six new students per year instead of three for the scholarship program.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Undergraduate students applying for the scholarship program
  • The commission managing the scholarship program

Terms To Know

Commission
A group that makes decisions about who gets scholarships and how to run the program.
Underserved area
An area where there are not enough dentists or dental services for people living there.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass, so it has no effect as of now.
  • It is unclear how many more students will actually join the program because of this change.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/13 (H) Referred To Public Health and Human Services;Appropriations A

Official Summary Text

MS Rural Dentist Scholarship Program; increase number of students who may be admitted annually.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 629 *HR43/R479* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R479
PAGE 1 (DJ\KP)

To: Public Health and Human
Services; Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Steverson

HOUSE BILL NO. 629

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-146-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ADMITTED ANNUALLY TO THE 2
MISSISSIPPI RURAL DENTIST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FROM THREE TO SIX; 3
AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 37-146-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
37-146-7. Identification and recruitment of undergraduate 8
participants; designation of underserved or rural area; applicant 9
qualifications; maximum number of new admissions per year. (1) 10
The commission shall develop and implement policies and procedures 11
designed to recruit, identify and enroll undergraduate students 12
who demonstrate necessary interest, commitment, aptitude and 13
academic achievement to pursue careers as dentists in rural or 14
dentally underserved areas of Mississippi, and to develop and 15
implement the programs designed to foster successful entry of 16
participants into dental school, completion of dental school, and 17
establishment and maintenance of a career in dentistry in a rural 18
or underserved area of Mississippi. 19
H. B. No. 629 *HR43/R479* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R479
PAGE 2 (DJ\KP)
ST: MS Rural Dentist Scholarship Program;
increase number of students who may be admitted
annually.
(2) The commission shall have the authority through use of 20
generally applicable definitions, to designate an area of the 21
state as underserved or rural. 22
(3) The commission, in conjunction with the University of 23
Mississippi Medical Center, shall have the authority to provide 24
students selected for scholarship funding with faculty mentors and 25
other programs designed to enhance the students' likelihood of 26
admission to the dental school. The commission and the University 27
of Mississippi Medical Center will develop coursework that will 28
help provide scholarship students with the skills necessary for 29
sustained and successful dental practice in rural Mississippi. 30
(4) Each applicant for admission to the program must submit 31
an application to the commission that conforms to requirements 32
established by the commission. 33
(5) In selecting participants for the program, the board may 34
only accept an applicant if his or her academic record and other 35
characteristics, if given consideration by the University of 36
Mississippi School of Dentistry Admissions Committee, would be 37
considered credible and competitive. 38
(6) An applicant for the program may be admitted only upon a 39
majority vote of the members of the commission. 40
(7) Up to * * * six (6) students will be admitted to the 41
Mississippi Rural Dentists Scholarship Program each year. 42
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 43
and after July 1, 2026. 44