The Senate convened the 2026 Regular Legislative Session on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
The Senate on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, committed to a historic $500 million stabilizing infusion to the Public Employees Retirement System, (PERS) with the passage of Senate Bill 2004, the Mississippi PERS Stability Act, which also dedicates an annual $50 million appropriation to PERS through 2036.
The Senate passed a trio of bills designed to strengthen Mississippi’s education system, including a teacher pay raise, reducing restrictions on retired teachers returning to work, and making public-to-public transfers easier for students.
Senate Bill 2001 provides a minimum $2,000 pay raise for all K–12 teachers, assistant teachers, community college instructors, and university instructors and professors statewide.
Senate Bill 2002 expands education portability by removing a sending district’s veto power that currently allows it to prevent a student from transferring after being accepted into another district. Receiving districts will continue to control all admissions decisions.
Senate Bill 2003 addresses Mississippi’s teacher shortage by making it easier for retired educators to return to the classroom. The bill increases retired teachers’ take-home pay from 50% to 65%, reduces the post-retirement sit-out period from 90 days to 45 days, allows any retired state employee to teach with at least a temporary teaching certificate, and expands eligibility from only critical shortage areas to all districts statewide.
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, the Senate confirmed the appointments of four members to the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.
The Senate faces a January 14, 2026, deadline for making requests for general bills and constitutional amendments to be drafted, and a Monday, January 19, 2026, deadline for introduction of general bills and constitutional amendments.
