Mississippi Senate Committee Kills Private School Voucher Bill

The proposed expansion of the state's school voucher program faced bipartisan opposition and will not move forward.

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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The Mississippi Senate Education Committee voted to kill a bill that would have expanded the state's school voucher program, allowing public funds to be used for private school tuition. The Republican-led committee held a voice vote on the motion to advance the bill to the full Senate, but no members spoke in favor of it, leading the committee chairman to declare that "the bill dies today." The Mississippi Democratic Party celebrated the legislation's failure, saying it sends a clear message that the state will not "abandon the students and families who depend on quality public education."

Why it matters

The proposed expansion of Mississippi's school voucher program was a controversial issue, with opponents arguing that it would divert public funds away from the state's public school system. The defeat of the bill is seen as a victory for supporters of public education in the state.

The details

House Bill 2, a wide-ranging education package, included a provision to expand Mississippi's school voucher program, known as Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). The bill passed the state House but faced bipartisan opposition in the Senate Education Committee. During a brief meeting, the committee chairman, Sen. Dennis DeBar, R-Leakesville, announced that the voucher bill was being killed along with most other provisions in the House bill.

  • On January 15, 2026, the Mississippi House narrowly passed House Bill 2 by a 61-59 vote.
  • On February 3, 2026, the Mississippi Senate Education Committee voted to kill House Bill 2, including the private school voucher provision.

The players

Dennis DeBar

Republican chairman of the Mississippi Senate Education Committee.

Brice Wiggins

Republican Mississippi state senator who entered a motion to vote on advancing the voucher bill.

Cheikh Taylor

Democratic chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party, who celebrated the defeat of the voucher bill.

Celeste Hurst

Republican Mississippi state representative who introduced House Bill 2 in the House chamber.

Tyler Hansford

Superintendent of the Union Public School District, who expressed concerns about House Bill 2 in a local newspaper opinion article.

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What they’re saying

“Today's vote shows what we can accomplish when we stand together for Mississippi's children against well-funded special interests. Our public schools are the cornerstone of every community in this state, and this unanimous rejection sends a clear message: Mississippi will not abandon the students and families who depend on quality public education—no matter how much out-of-state money tries to buy our legislators.”

— Cheikh Taylor, Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman (mississippifreepress.org)

“The picture that opponents have painted is one of private school versus public school. But let me be clear: This is not a war between public and private education. They should be complementing each other.”

— Celeste Hurst, Mississippi State Representative (mississippifreepress.org)

“Our concern with HB 2 is that it moves Mississippi away from a shared public commitment to education and toward a model that fragments funding and responsibility. Public dollars should be used to sustain public systems that serve all students and communities, not to convert a public good into a marketplace transaction.”

— Tyler Hansford, Union Public School District Superintendent (Newton County Appeal)

The takeaway

The defeat of the private school voucher bill in the Mississippi Senate Education Committee represents a victory for supporters of public education in the state, who argued that diverting public funds to private schools would undermine the state's commitment to providing quality education for all students.