Mississippi House Bill HB134

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/7/26
• Refer: 1/7/26
• Failed: 2/3/26

Caption

Health care and education shortage assistance program; establish to help attract professionals to work in certain counties.

Impact

The funding for this program will come from the Mississippi Works Fund, and the legislature mandates a minimum annual appropriation of five million dollars to support its operation. Each eligible county must adopt a resolution to request these funds and submit a detailed plan outlining how they intend to utilize the financial assistance. Furthermore, counties are required to provide matching funds amounting to at least thirty percent of the granted amount, promoting local investment in workforce development.

Summary

House Bill 134 establishes a Health Care and Education Shortage Assistance Program aimed at attracting essential professionals such as physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians, social workers, and teachers to work in rural counties experiencing significant workforce shortages. The bill specifically targets counties that had an unemployment rate exceeding ten percent in the previous calendar year and currently face a scarcity of these critical workers. By providing targeted assistance, the bill aims to bolster workforce availability in areas that typically struggle to attract talent.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding HB134 may involve the sustainability of its funding model, particularly in relation to matching funds, which could present challenges for smaller or economically distressed counties. Furthermore, ensuring equitable access to these funds across diverse regions may require careful oversight by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, which will administer the disbursement of funds to counties. The effectiveness of this program will heavily depend on the local governments’ commitment to leveraging the provided funding to address specific workforce shortages in their respective areas.