The 2025 Mississippi Legislative Session convened on January 7 and abruptly adjourned on April 2—without passing a state budget. From knowingly passing tax legislation with errors, to court-ordered redistricting, this session brought a wave of controversial proposals and heated debates.
As in past years, some of the most significant takeaways were the missed opportunities and the critical issues the legislature chose not to address. Lawmakers failed to advance key proposals that would have expanded Medicaid, restored a ballot initiative process, implemented early voting, or addressed suffrage rights. These critical issues, despite broad public interest, were sidelined.
Still, there were a few notable outcomes. For example, the legislature passed a paid parental leave policy for state employees. Meanwhile, a series of harmful education bills—including a number of school choice bills and a voucher bill to fund private schools—were introduced but ultimately did not pass.
In addition, the session unfolded against a backdrop of national economic and political uncertainty. Deep federal tax cuts and reductions in grant funding—including major cuts to Mississippi’s departments of health and education—loomed throughout the session. At the same time, federal rollbacks of civil rights protections in education, immigration, and other public services set a troubling tone. Mississippi lawmakers followed suit, introducing legislation aligned with Trump-era priorities: banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public institutions and pushing for more punitive immigration policies.
Locally, the session played out in the shadow of upcoming municipal elections, where leadership changes could significantly reshape priorities at the city and county levels.
In all, this is a pivotal moment for Mississippi. With the likelihood of a special legislative session and special elections ahead, decisions made now will impact our future. Now, more than ever, we must come together to ensure that the voices of marginalized communities are heard and that elected officials are held accountable. Together, we can help build a Mississippi where equity, opportunity, and dignity are possible for all, ensuring that Mississippi is a place where everyone thrives.
Public education was under attack during the 2025 legislative session, as political ideologies mirroring federal policy debates shaped much of the conversation. Despite early momentum around school privatization, many of the most harmful school choice bills ultimately failed. Legislation to make changes to the state’s new school funding formula—specifically HB 1630—also died. And while universal voucher legislation was a top priority for state leaders at the start of the session, it did not move forward.
Several bills sought to divert resources from public schools and increase privatization under the banner of “school choice.” These included:
These proposals threatened to drain resources from public schools and erode local accountability. Fortunately, the Senate blocked many of them.
However, lawmakers did pass HB 1193, the so-called “Requiring Efficiency For Our Colleges and Universities System and Education System (REFOCUSES) Act.” This bill bans Mississippi’s public universities, community colleges, K–12 schools, and charter schools from using Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices in faculty hiring, academic programming, and student engagement. Its passage reflects a troubling shift in priorities—one that favors political ideology over real investments in educational opportunity. In doing so, lawmakers missed a key opportunity to strengthen public education and improve outcomes for all Mississippi students.
Mississippi lawmakers missed another opportunity to expand voting rights. Key voting rights legislation that we followed included:
One of the most consequential outcomes of the 2025 legislative session was the passage of House Bill 1, the “Build Up Mississippi Act.” This bill eliminates the state income tax—putting Mississippi’s economic future at risk by jeopardizing funding for critical public services like education and healthcare. It also shifts the tax burden from the wealthy onto working families and those with lower incomes, deepening inequality across the state.
Another major development was the legislature’s failure to pass a state budget—marking the first time in 16 years that Mississippi lawmakers ended a session without one. Despite continued public demand, Medicaid expansion was once again ignored. However, lawmakers did pass a long-overdue paid family leave policy for state employees, a positive step toward economic security for Mississippi families.
Still, the state has a long way to go. As federal uncertainties loom—particularly around infrastructure and healthcare funding—Mississippi’s economic stability and the well-being of everyday families hang in the balance.
Key economic-related legislation included:
Income tax elimination: Rather than strengthening the state’s income tax system, lawmakers chose to weaken it by eliminating the income tax altogether through the passage of HB 1. The bill calls for gradually reducing the 4% income tax rate by 0.25% annually from 2027 to 2030, reaching 3% in 2030. After that, further reductions would depend on “growth triggers” tied to state revenue and spending. It also includes cutting the sales tax on groceries from 7% to 5%, increasing the gasoline tax by 9 cents over three years, and changing retirement benefits for government employees hired after March 2026.
This legislation would eliminate $2.1 billion in annual revenue, nearly 30% of the state’s general fund. That loss threatens funding for essential services—like public schools, roads, and hospitals—while raising the gas tax and shifting costs to working families. Meanwhile, the wealthiest Mississippians would receive a $41,000 tax cut, roughly equivalent to the state’s average annual income, while low-income families would save just $42 per year, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
A stronger, more equitable tax system is key to building a Mississippi that works for everyone—not just a wealthy few.
State budget: For the first time in 16 years, Mississippi lawmakers failed to pass a state budget, leaving nearly $7 billion in state funding unresolved. The breakdown stemmed from disagreements between the House and Senate—particularly over local project funding and a typo buried in a key tax trigger. More broadly, this failure reveals a deeper problem: Mississippi’s budget process remains rushed and largely inaccessible to the public.
Mississippians deserve a budget process that centers the voices and priorities of our communities. A more open and inclusive budget process would ensure lawmakers engage the public early and often, instead of saving key decisions for behind-closed-doors negotiations in the final days of session.
To view the full list of bills introduced this session, visit the Mississippi Legislature’s website: https://www.legislature.ms.gov/legislation/
As we reflect on the challenges and decisions of the 2025 session, it’s crucial to recognize that the legislative process is ongoing, and advocacy must continue beyond a single session. During the 2025 Mississippi Legislative Session, lawmakers introduced several bills aligned with our priorities, but many stalled in committee early in the legislative process. Moving forward, we continue to urge lawmakers to prioritize education funding, criminal justice reforms, end felony disenfranchisement, reinstate the ballot initiative process, expand voting rights, expand Medicaid, invest in energy democracy, and advance a fair tax system.
It’s important to recognize that public engagement significantly influences outcomes. Legislative victories do not happen overnight. They are the result of sustained public pressure and community action. Continue to actively reach out to and engage with our elected officials so that everyone in every Mississippi THRIVES.
The diagram below illustrates the legislative progress made during the session towards building resilient communities: The green on the diagram below illustrates the legislative progress made during the session towards building resilient communities. We will continue to fight for the issues with red.
Our mission is to ensure an equal voice for traditionally silenced communities. When One Voice’s work is done, we envision a Mississippi with a healthy vibrant thriving neighborhoods, schools, economy, and most importantly families.
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