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HB824 • 2026

School bus drivers; require to be trained and certified in first aid and CPR.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-41-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS TO BE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED IN FIRST AID AND CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR); AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education Healthcare
Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not provide details about charter school exemptions in the context of enforcement responsibilities.

School Bus Drivers Must Learn First Aid and CPR

This bill requires school bus drivers to get training and certification in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

What This Bill Does

  • Requires all school bus drivers to be trained and certified in first aid.
  • Requires all school bus drivers to be trained and certified in CPR.
  • The State Board of Education and Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board are responsible for enforcing this requirement.

Who It Names or Affects

  • School bus drivers who transport students for public schools.
  • The State Board of Education and Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board, which will enforce the new rules.

Terms To Know

CPR
A medical emergency procedure used to help someone whose heart has stopped beating.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It would have taken effect on July 1, 2026, if it had passed.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/16 (H) Referred To Education

Official Summary Text

School bus drivers; require to be trained and certified in first aid and CPR.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 824 *HR26/R756* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R756
PAGE 1 (DJ\KW)

To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Porter

HOUSE BILL NO. 824

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-41-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
REQUIRE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS TO BE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED IN FIRST 2
AID AND CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR); AND FOR RELATED 3
PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 37-41-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
37-41-1. (1) The State Board of Education is authorized, 8
empowered and directed to promulgate rules and regulations 9
relating to the transportation of students enrolled in the public 10
school districts, including rules and regulations for: 11
(a) Setting standards for public school district bus 12
routes; 13
(b) Setting standards for public school district buses; 14
(c) Setting standards for public school district bus 15
drivers; 16
(d) Formulating procedure for selecting public school 17
district bus drivers; 18
H. B. No. 824 *HR26/R756* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R756
PAGE 2 (DJ\KW)

(e) Formulating courses of training for public school 19
district bus drivers and mechanics, and assist in administering 20
and financing such courses; 21
(f) Providing operation procedure for public school 22
district buses to insure safety of pupils; 23
(g) Formulating specifications for use in purchasing 24
public school district buses; getting bids on public school 25
district buses; equipment and supplies; and fixing prices based 26
upon said bids which school districts may not exceed in purchasing 27
said equipment; 28
(h) Formulating specifications for use by school 29
districts in purchasing used school buses; and 30
(i) Providing a system of records and reports for the 31
purpose of carrying out the provisions of Sections 37-41-1 through 32
37-41-51, and providing the superintendent of schools with a 33
sufficient supply of report forms. 34
All rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the 35
State Board of Education relating to school district bus drivers 36
shall also be applicable to drivers of privately owned buses 37
transporting public school district children. 38
All rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the 39
State Board of Education pursuant to the authority conferred by 40
this section shall be spread at large upon the minutes of the 41
State Board of Education and copies thereof shall be furnished to 42
H. B. No. 824 *HR26/R756* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R756
PAGE 3 (DJ\KW)
ST: School bus drivers; require to be trained
and certified in first aid and CPR.
all school boards not less than thirty (30) days prior to the 43
effective date of such rules and regulations. 44
Except for subsection (2) of this section, the provisions of 45
this chapter are applicable to school districts and the 46
transportation of students enrolled in public school districts. 47
Charter schools authorized by the Mississippi Charter School 48
Authorizer Board are exempt from the provisions of this chapter. 49
(2) The driver of every school transportation vehicle used 50
to transport pupils must be trained and certified in first aid and 51
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The State Board of Education 52
and Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board shall enforce this 53
subsection. 54
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 55
and after July 1, 2026. 56