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S. B. No. 2344 *SS26/R75.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Universities and
Colleges
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Boyd, Hickman, Williams,
Gillespie Isom, Simmons (12th), Simmons
(13th), Brumfield, Butler
SENATE BILL NO. 2344
AN ACT TO DECLARE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; TO REQUIRE STUDENTS 1
AT STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND 2
JUNIOR COLLEGES TO COMPLETE A FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE AS A 3
CONDITION OF GRADUATION; TO OUTLINE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH 4
FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE; TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR 5
IMPLEMENTATION FOR INSTITUTIONS AND COLLEGES; TO GRANT THE BOARD 6
OF TRUSTEES OF THE STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND THE 7
MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD AUTHORITY TO PROMULGATE RULES 8
AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY FOR IMPLEMENTATION; TO GIVE THE BOARD OF 9
TRUSTEES OF THE STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND THE 10
MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH 11
MINIMUM LEARNING OUTCOMES AND COMPETENCY STANDARDS; TO ALLOW THE 12
BOARDS TO COORDINATE; TO CREATE COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES; TO PROVIDE 13
FOR HIGH SCHOOL FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSES; AND FOR RELATED 14
PURPOSES. 15
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 16
SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature finds that: 17
(a) Students enrolled in Mississippi's public 18
postsecondary institutions increasingly incur debt, enter binding 19
financial contracts and make consequential financial decisions 20
while pursuing a credential or degree; 21
(b) Insufficient financial literacy contributes to 22
student loan default, financial hardship, delayed completion and 23
reduced workforce readiness; 24
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(c) Providing structured, practical financial literacy 25
instruction at the postsecondary level promotes student success 26
and long-term economic stability. 27
Therefore, the purpose of this act is to create a minimum 28
requirement of financial literacy competency for students enrolled 29
in Mississippi's state institutions of higher learning and 30
community colleges. 31
(2) Beginning with the student cohort entering institutions 32
in the fall of 2027, each state institution of higher learning 33
governed by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher 34
Learning and each community or junior college governed by the 35
Mississippi Community College Board shall require completion of a 36
postsecondary financial literacy course or equivalent competency 37
program as a condition of graduation, certificate completion or 38
credential attainment, as applicable. 39
(3) The required course or competency program shall: 40
(a) Be at least one (1) credit hour or equivalent, or 41
be delivered through a competency-based or pass/fail format 42
approved by the applicable governing board; 43
(b) Emphasize practical, real-world financial 44
decision-making, including, but not limited to: 45
(i) Personal budgeting and cash-flow management; 46
(ii) Credit, debt and credit scores; 47
(iii) Student loans, financial aid and repayment 48
options; 49
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(iv) Basic tax obligations and filing 50
requirements; 51
(v) Insurance and risk management; 52
(vi) Saving, investing and retirement planning; 53
(vii) Consumer protection, contracts and fraud 54
prevention; and 55
(viii) Evaluation of employment offers, wages and 56
benefits; 57
(c) Include applied learning components demonstrating 58
financial competency through simulations, individualized financial 59
planning or comparable exercises; and 60
(d) Be free from commercial endorsements, product 61
promotion or commissioned financial services. 62
(4) Each institution may: 63
(a) Determine the method of delivery, including 64
in-person, online, hybrid, modular or embedded instructional 65
models; 66
(b) Permit students to satisfy the requirement through 67
an approved examination, prior coursework or demonstrated 68
competency, as established by institutional policy and governing 69
board guidelines; and 70
(c) Integrate the requirement into existing coursework, 71
orientation programs, workforce credential pathways or degree 72
plans, provided the minimum competencies are met. 73
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(5) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher 74
Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board may 75
promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this 76
section within their respective systems. 77
(6) (a) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of 78
Higher Learning shall establish minimum learning outcomes and 79
competency standards applicable to institutions within the board's 80
purview. 81
(b) The Mississippi Community College Board shall 82
establish minimum learning outcomes and competency standards 83
applicable to community and junior colleges. 84
(c) The two (2) boards may coordinate to ensure 85
alignment and portability where appropriate, while preserving 86
differences in institutional missions. 87
(7) Compliance with this act shall be documented through 88
existing academic program review or reporting processes of each 89
governing board. No additional standalone reporting requirement 90
is created by this act. 91
(8) Completion of a high school financial literacy course 92
shall not automatically satisfy the requirements of this section. 93
Such courses shall only satisfy the requirements of this section 94
upon a determination that the coursework meets postsecondary 95
competency standards by the applicable institution or community 96
college. 97
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ST: Financial literacy; require as component of
postsecondary education.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 98
and after July 1, 2026. 99