KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB2609 • 2026

University or college student residence; same as parent or guardian.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-103-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE RESIDENCE OF A MINOR STUDENT ATTENDING A UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS THAT OF THE STUDENTS PARENT OR GUARDIAN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education Parental Rights
Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on the specific criteria for paying in-state tuition based on graduation from a Mississippi high school.

Student Residence Rules for College

This bill changes the rules so that a student under 21 years old attending college in Mississippi has the same residence as their parent or guardian.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law to say that if someone is under 21 and goes to college, their home address for tuition purposes will be where their parents or guardians live.
  • Requires students' parents or guardians to be U.S. citizens or legally present in the country.
  • Does not change how people register to vote or actually vote.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Students under 21 attending universities or community colleges in Mississippi
  • Parents or guardians of these students

Terms To Know

Residence
The place where someone lives and is considered a resident for legal purposes.
Tuition
Money paid to attend school, usually different rates for in-state or out-of-state students.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass during the session it was introduced.
  • The rules about voting residence are not changed by this bill.

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 Universities and Colleges

Official Summary Text

University or college student residence; same as parent or guardian.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2609 *SS36/R1144* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS36/R1144
PAGE 1 (rdd\tb)

To: Universities and
Colleges
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Chism

SENATE BILL NO. 2609

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-103-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO PROVIDE THAT THE RESIDENCE OF A MINOR STUDENT ATTENDING A 2
UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS THAT OF THE STUDENTS PARENT OR 3
GUARDIAN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 37-103-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
37-103-7. For purposes of determining whether a person pays 8
out-of-state or in-state tuition for attendance at universities 9
and community and junior colleges, the residence of a person less 10
than twenty-one (21) years of age is that of the father, the 11
mother or a general guardian duly appointed by a proper court in 12
Mississippi, except that the father, mother or general guardian of 13
a minor must be a citizen of the United States or lawfully present 14
therein and the person, whether a minor or not, must be a citizen 15
of the United States or lawfully present therein in order to be 16
admitted as a student to any Mississippi institution of higher 17
learning or community college. If a court has granted custody of 18
the minor to one (1) parent, the residence of the minor is that of 19
S. B. No. 2609 *SS36/R1144* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R1144
PAGE 2 (rdd\tb)
ST: University or college student residence;
same as parent or guardian.
the parent who was granted custody by the court. If both parents 20
are dead, the residence of the minor is that of the last surviving 21
parent at the time of that parent's death, unless the minor lives 22
with a general guardian duly appointed by a proper court of 23
Mississippi, in which case his residence becomes that of the 24
guardian. A * * * person residing within the State of Mississippi 25
who, upon registration at a Mississippi institution of higher 26
learning or community college, presents proof of legal residence 27
by their father, mother or general guardian, and proof of legal 28
residence for themselves, and a transcript demonstrating 29
graduation from a Mississippi secondary school and who has been a 30
secondary school student in Mississippi for not less than the 31
final four (4) years of secondary school attendance shall not be 32
required to pay out-of-state tuition. This section shall not 33
apply to the residence of a person as it relates to residency for 34
voter registration or voting. 35
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 36
and after July 1, 2026. 37