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HB77 • 2026

Universities and colleges; require to provide mental health assessments to members of school athletic teams.

AN ACT TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE TO PROVIDE ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS TO ALL MEMBERS OF EACH SCHOOL SPONSORED ATHLETIC ORGANIZATION GOVERNED BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF A NATIONAL OR REGIONAL SPORTS ASSOCIATION OR CONFERENCE; TO PRESCRIBE THE MANNER BY WHICH THE ASSESSMENT MAY BE ADMINISTERED, THE TOOLS USED IN THE ASSESSMENTS AND BY WHOM THE ASSESSMENT MAY BE ADMINISTERED; TO REQUIRE EACH UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE TO PARTNER WITH A LOCAL OR REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTERING THE REQUIRED ASSESSMENTS OR SCREENINGS AND TO PROVIDE BACKEND COUNSELING SERVICES AND COURSE OF CARE PLANS; TO PERMIT UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES TO CONSULT THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE THROUGH STATE PROVIDERS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES; TO REQUIRE EACH UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL STUDENT POPULATION WHO HAVE AN ARREST RECORD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education Taxes
Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so it is uncertain if and how these requirements would be implemented.

Mental Health Assessments for Student-Athletes

This bill requires public universities and colleges to provide annual mental health assessments to student-athletes in sports organizations governed by national or regional rules.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires each public university and college to give yearly mental health checks to all members of school-sponsored athletic teams that follow national or regional sports rules.
  • Specifies how the mental health check should be done, including using tools like questionnaires, doctor interviews, and digital tests.
  • Allows universities and colleges to work with local behavioral health experts to help administer these assessments and provide counseling services for students who need it.
  • Permits universities and colleges to consult the state's Department of Mental Health for more resources and support.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public universities and colleges
  • Student-athletes in school-sponsored sports teams

Terms To Know

Mental health assessment
A check-up to see how well a person is doing emotionally, including their thinking and behavior.
Behavioral health specialist
An expert who helps with mental health issues and provides counseling services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
  • It is unclear how many universities and colleges will comply if this becomes law.
  • Details about specific tools or methods for assessments are left to be determined by each institution.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-07 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/07 (H) Referred To Universities and Colleges;Public Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Universities and colleges; require to provide mental health assessments to members of school athletic teams.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 77 *HR43/R625* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R625
PAGE 1 (DJ\KP)

To: Universities and
Colleges; Public Health and
Human Services
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Hines

HOUSE BILL NO. 77

AN ACT TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE TO 1
PROVIDE ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS TO ALL MEMBERS OF EACH 2
SCHOOL SPONSORED ATHLETIC ORGANIZATION GOVERNED BY THE RULES AND 3
REGULATIONS OF A NATIONAL OR REGIONAL SPORTS ASSOCIATION OR 4
CONFERENCE; TO PRESCRIBE THE MANNER BY WHICH THE ASSESSMENT MAY BE 5
ADMINISTERED, THE TOOLS USED IN THE ASSESSMENTS AND BY WHOM THE 6
ASSESSMENT MAY BE ADMINISTERED; TO REQUIRE EACH UNIVERSITY AND 7
COLLEGE TO PARTNER WITH A LOCAL OR REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 8
SPECIALIST TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTERING THE REQUIRED ASSESSMENTS OR 9
SCREENINGS AND TO PROVIDE BACKEND COUNSELING SERVICES AND COURSE 10
OF CARE PLANS; TO PERMIT UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES TO CONSULT THE 11
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND OTHER 12
FORMS OF ASSISTANCE THROUGH STATE PROVIDERS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 13
SERVICES; TO REQUIRE EACH UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE TO PROVIDE MENTAL 14
HEALTH ASSESSMENTS TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL STUDENT POPULATION 15
WHO HAVE AN ARREST RECORD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 16
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 17
SECTION 1. (1) Each state institution of higher learning 18
and public community or junior college is required to provide an 19
annual mental health assessment to all members of each school 20
sponsored athletic organization which is governed by the rules and 21
regulations of a national or regional sports association or 22
conference, or both association and conference. 23
H. B. No. 77 *HR43/R625* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R625
PAGE 2 (DJ\KP)

(2) The mental health assessment shall be administered in 24
order to provide a complete overview of the student-athlete's 25
overall emotional state by determining how well the 26
student-athlete is able to think, reason and remember (cognitive 27
functioning). While the assessment may be performed through a 28
series of questions asked by a doctor for verbal or written 29
responses, the student-athlete's appearance, disposition, mood, 30
behavior and ability to express oneself may also be considered as 31
criteria factored into the complete assessment, and may also 32
include digital screening tools or lab tests, such as tests of 33
blood or urine samples. 34
(3) (a) The mental health assessment may be performed by 35
any of the following: 36
(i) A primary care doctor; 37
(ii) A psychologist; 38
(iii) A psychiatrist; 39
(iv) A social worker; 40
(v) A behavioral therapist; or 41
(vi) A mental health counselor. 42
(b) The results of the mental health assessment shall 43
remain confidential. 44
(4) Each state institution of higher learning and public 45
community or junior college shall partner with a local or regional 46
behavioral health specialist to assist the postsecondary 47
institution to provide the required assessments and/or screenings 48
H. B. No. 77 *HR43/R625* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R625
PAGE 3 (DJ\KP)
ST: Universities and colleges; require to
provide mental health assessments to members of
school athletic teams.
and provide counseling and direction, a course of care for those 49
student-athletes who evidence mental health issues. The 50
postsecondary institutions may also consult the Mississippi 51
Department of Mental Health to seek additional resources and forms 52
of assistance through state providers of behavioral and mental 53
health services. 54
(5) Each state institution of higher learning and public 55
community or junior college shall also provide mental health 56
assessments to any student enrolled in the general student 57
population of the university or college who has an arrest record, 58
whether the arrest occurred before or during the course of the 59
student's enrollment at the university or college. Upon being 60
informed of a student's arrest, the university or college, in 61
addition to requiring the offending student to undergo a mental 62
health assessment, may also recommend the student's participation 63
in a mental health diversion pilot program as established under 64
provisions of the Rivers McGraw Act. 65
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 66
and after July 1, 2026. 67