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HB 485

MCOPS Grant Program; increase grant amount up to a minimum of $40,000 per officer employed as a school resource officer.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doc Harris and 1 co-sponsor

Mississippi bill increases minimum state grant funding for school resource officers to $40,000 per officer, raising state education costs.

Referred To Education;Appropriations A
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Bill Summary · HB 485

Legislative bill overview

HB 485 would increase funding for Mississippi's MCOPS (Mississippi Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training) Grant Program, establishing a minimum grant amount of $40,000 per school resource officer (SRO) employed in schools. The bill aims to provide more robust financial support for schools that employ these officers.

Why is this important

School resource officer programs have become widespread across the U.S., but funding varies significantly by district and school. This bill addresses whether state government should standardize and increase financial support for SRO positions, which affects school safety initiatives, local education budgets, and officer recruitment/retention in schools.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact: The bill requires identifying total current SRO positions statewide and calculating the appropriations needed; this could represent substantial new state spending or require reallocation from other education funding
  • Local control vs. state mandate: Establishing a state minimum may conflict with local districts' autonomy to decide whether and how many SROs they employ
  • SRO effectiveness debate: There is ongoing national discussion about whether increased SRO presence improves school safety or has unintended consequences like increased student arrests; policymakers disagree on the value proposition

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

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