The Mississippi Senate passed a strike all amendment for HB 1395 late this afternoon by a unanimous vote via the morning roll call.The strike all amendment passed by the Senate:
Provides a $6,000 teacher pay raise implemented over the next three years via a $2,000 increase each year beginning with the 2026-27 school year to the teacher salary scale set forth in state law.
Provides an additional annual salary supplement for special education instructors as follows: $1,000 for the 2026-27 school year; $2,000 for the 2027-28 school year; and $3,000 for the 2028-29 school year and all subsequent school years.
Provides a $2,000 salary increase for assistant teachers that raises their state minimum salary from $17,000 to $19,000 effective with the 2026-27 school year.
Expresses the legislature’s intent that full-time community college and university professors receive a $2,000 pay raise.
With regards to the assistant teacher pay raise, the Senate strike all provides that no school district may reduce the local supplement or pay an assistant teacher less than the state minimum salary in a year in which the state minimum salary is increased. If a district does so, its formula funds will be reduced by twice the amount of any such reduction.
HB 1395 as passed the Senate this afternoon is basically a stand-alone teacher pay raise bill, although this afternoon’s strike all amendment also limits the right of first refusal a district must grant to charter schools for the purchase or lease of unused school property to 12 months, as that was the original topic of the bill. The strike all does not contain any sections of state law other than those related to these pay raises and the purchase of unused school property.
Please join MPE in thanking Senate members for their action this afternoon. HB 1395 now heads back to the House where that chamber may agree with the Senate’s amendment, invite conference to negotiate a compromise, or let the bill die on the calendar. It is extremely promising that legislators have revived a teacher pay raise via two bills – HB 1395 and SB 2103. MPE encourages House and Senate leaders and members to work together to negotiate the most beneficial pay raise for our state’s teachers and assistant teachers. As always, you may contact your representative and senator with your thoughts on the importance of their passing a significant pay raise this session.
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