School nurses; direct the Office of Healthy Schools to develop salary schedule for that all school districts shall use when employing.
Summary
House Bill 532 amends Mississippi’s school nurse statute to require the Office of Healthy Schools within the State Department of Education to develop a salary schedule for school nurses based on education and experience. That schedule would be used by all school districts when hiring school nurses and would set the minimum salary amounts paid to them. The bill also updates the existing school nurse program language to reflect that the Office of Healthy Schools is responsible for administering the program and supporting school health services statewide.
The bill keeps and restates the broader duties of the Mary Kirkpatrick Haskell-Mary Sprayberry Public School Nurse Program, including providing health education, administering medications, supporting wellness initiatives, and helping identify health and safety concerns in schools. It also directs the Office of Healthy Schools to continue developing standards, criteria, and resources for school nurse programs, while adding a clearer mandate to create a uniform pay structure tied to qualifications and experience. The act is set to take effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB532 would amend Section 37-14-3 of the Mississippi Code to make the Office of Healthy Schools responsible for creating a statewide salary schedule for school nurses that all school districts must follow as a minimum pay floor. This would affect school districts’ hiring and compensation practices for school nurses and could increase minimum salary obligations depending on a nurse’s education and experience. The bill does not create a new program, but it strengthens state-level control over school nurse compensation within the existing public school nurse framework.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong support for the bill in the House, where it passed 120-0 on January 29, 2025. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to indicate opposition. The overall sentiment appears favorable and noncontroversial, at least in the chamber where it was considered.
Contention
The main policy issue is the requirement that all school districts use a state-developed salary schedule as the minimum for school nurses. Supporters are likely to view this as a way to standardize pay, improve recruitment and retention, and recognize nurses’ education and experience. Potential concerns, though not documented in the provided materials, would likely come from school districts or budget-minded stakeholders worried about reduced local flexibility and higher personnel costs. No specific objections were recorded in the provided discussion materials.