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HB 1358

Excused absences; permit for students participating in roping or barrel horse events.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joey Hood

Mississippi bill would allow students competing in roping and barrel horse events to receive excused school absences, but died in committee.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 1358

Legislative bill overview

HB 1358 would have permitted Mississippi students to receive excused absences from school when participating in roping or barrel horse events. The bill would have allowed students competing in these equestrian activities to miss class without penalty to their attendance record.

Why is this important

School attendance policies directly affect student grades, transcripts, and graduation eligibility. This bill would have created a carve-out allowing student athletes in specific equestrian sports to compete during school days while maintaining their attendance standing, similar to existing excused absence provisions for other school-sanctioned activities.

Potential points of contention

  • Academic equity concerns: Providing excused absences for a specific sport could create disparities if other athletic programs (football, basketball, etc.) don't receive similar treatment
  • Scope definition: The bill's specificity to roping and barrel events (rather than all equestrian competition) raises questions about legislative favoritism toward particular agricultural communities
  • Implementation burden: Schools would need to verify student participation in qualifying events and track these absences separately from standard athletic excusals

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

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