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SB2305 • 2026

School classrooms; authorize Christian Bible to be kept in and enforce daily recitation of pledge.

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 37-13-8.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS TO ALLOW A CHRISTIAN BIBLE PROVIDED BY A PERSON OR ENTITY OTHER THAN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND LIBRARIES; TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS TO TAKE SUCH ACTIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS THAT SCHOOLS PROPERLY DISPLAY THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES AND RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DAILY IN CLASSROOMS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT REQUIRING THE DAILY RECITATION OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education
Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Chism, Taylor, Hill, Seymour, Suber, McCaughn, Rhodes, Younger, McLendon, England, Barrett, Berry, Williams, Hartness
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how schools will enforce daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

School Classrooms; Allow Christian Bible and Daily Pledge

This bill requires school boards to allow a visible and accessible Christian Bible in classrooms and libraries, mandates daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and ensures proper display of the U.S. flag.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires each public school classroom and library to have a visible and accessible Christian Bible provided by someone other than the school district.
  • Mandates that schools properly display the United States flag in classrooms and principal rooms during school hours.
  • Revises existing law to require daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each class day.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public schools and their classrooms in Mississippi
  • School boards responsible for implementing these requirements

Terms To Know

Pledge of Allegiance
A statement of loyalty to the United States flag, including a reference to God.
Christian Bible
The holy book of Christianity, which would be made available in classrooms and libraries under this bill.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass during the session.
  • It is unclear how schools will enforce daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance without penalizing those who object.
  • The bill does not specify what happens if a school fails to comply with these requirements.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (S) Referred To Education

Official Summary Text

School classrooms; authorize Christian Bible to be kept in and enforce daily recitation of pledge.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2305 *SS08/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R1164
PAGE 1 (rdd\tb)

To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Chism, Taylor, Hill, Seymour,
Suber, McCaughn, Rhodes, Younger, McLendon,
England, Barrett, Berry, Williams, Hartness

SENATE BILL NO. 2305

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 37-13-8.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1
1972, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS TO ALLOW A CHRISTIAN BIBLE PROVIDED 2
BY A PERSON OR ENTITY OTHER THAN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE VISIBLE 3
AND ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND 4
LIBRARIES; TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 5
REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS TO TAKE SUCH ACTIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO 6
ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS THAT SCHOOLS PROPERLY 7
DISPLAY THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES AND RECITE THE PLEDGE OF 8
ALLEGIANCE DAILY IN CLASSROOMS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-7, 9
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING 10
PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT REQUIRING THE DAILY RECITATION OF THE 11
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 12
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 13
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 14
37-13-8.1, Mississippi Code of 1972: 15
37-13-8.1. The school board of each school district shall 16
allow a Christian Bible to be visible and accessible to students 17
in each public school classroom and library. For purposes of this 18
section, any person or entity other than the school district may 19
provide the Christian Bible to be kept in a public school 20
classroom or library. 21
SECTION 2. Section 37-13-6, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 22
amended as follows: 23
S. B. No. 2305 *SS08/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1164
PAGE 2 (rdd\tb)

37-13-6. (1) The flag of the United States shall be 24
displayed in close proximity to the school building, on a proper 25
staff, at all times during the hours of daylight when the school 26
is in session when the weather will permit without damage to the 27
flag. In addition, the flag of the United States shall be 28
displayed in each classroom and in each principal room of the 29
school building at all times while school is in session. It shall 30
be the duty of the school boards of each school district to 31
provide for the flags, proper flag staffs and their proper 32
display. Each school district shall provide student instruction 33
in the proper etiquette toward, correct display of, and respect 34
for the flag, and in patriotic exercises. The instruction shall 35
be a part of the district's fifth-grade social studies curriculum 36
or history curriculum, with the assistance of the State Department 37
of Education. 38
(2) * * * (a) The school boards of all public schools of 39
this state shall require the teachers under their control to have 40
all pupils repeat the * * * Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of 41
the United States of America at the beginning of the first hour of 42
class each day school is in session, such * * * Pledge of 43
Allegiance being as follows: 44
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of 45
America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under 46
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." 47
S. B. No. 2305 *SS08/R1164* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1164
PAGE 3 (rdd\tb)
ST: School classrooms; authorize Christian
Bible to be kept in and enforce daily recitation
of pledge.
(b) Any student or teacher who objects to reciting 48
the * * * Pledge of Allegiance shall be excused from participating 49
without penalty. Whenever a teacher is excused, the school in 50
which the teacher is employed must make alternate arrangements for 51
the teacher's students to participate in the daily recitation of 52
the Pledge of Allegiance. 53
(3) A person having knowledge of the failure of a school or 54
teacher to comply with the requirements of this section may report 55
the alleged violation to the local school board. If, upon 56
inquiry, the school board verifies the noncompliance, the school 57
board shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure 58
compliance with the requirements of this section. 59
SECTION 3. Section 37-13-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 60
amended as follows: 61
37-13-7. * * * The official pledge of the State of 62
Mississippi shall read as follows: 63
"I salute the flag of Mississippi and the sovereign state for 64
which it stands with pride in her history and achievements and 65
with confidence in her future under the guidance of Almighty God." 66
The pledge of allegiance to the Mississippi flag shall be 67
taught in the public schools of this state, along with the pledge 68
of allegiance to the United States flag. 69
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from 70
and after July 1, 2026. 71