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HB 672

Behavioral Threat Assessment Program; require State Department of Education and Department of Mental Health to establish.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sam Creekmore

Mississippi bill requiring coordinated school threat assessment program between education and mental health departments to identify and manage students exhibiting risky behaviors; died in committee.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 672

Legislative bill overview

HB 672 would have required Mississippi's State Department of Education and Department of Mental Health to jointly establish a Behavioral Threat Assessment Program. This program would create a framework for identifying, evaluating, and responding to students exhibiting behavioral patterns that pose potential threats to school safety.

Why is this important

School safety and threat assessment have become significant policy concerns following multiple high-profile incidents. A coordinated state program could standardize how schools identify and intervene with at-risk students, potentially preventing violence while supporting students with mental health needs through early intervention rather than solely punitive measures.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource allocation: Implementation would require funding and staff training across districts, raising questions about cost distribution and whether schools have adequate mental health professionals to conduct assessments
  • Due process and civil liberties: Threat assessment programs raise concerns about how behavioral data is collected, stored, and shared between agencies, and whether students flagged receive appropriate safeguards and appeals processes
  • Scope and accuracy: Defining what constitutes a "threat" is subjective; overly broad criteria could disproportionately flag students with neurodivergence, emotional disabilities, or those from marginalized communities, while narrow criteria might miss genuine risks

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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