MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Universities and Colleges By: Senator(s) Williams Senate Bill 2221 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE) AN ACT TO REQUIRE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO MAKE A REPORT TO EITHER THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING OR THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD ABOUT COEDUCATIONAL DORMITORIES ON THEIR CAMPUSES; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO MAKE A CONSOLIDATED REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT COEDUCATIONAL DORMITORIES ON ALL CAMPUSES UNDER THEIR PURVIEW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. (1) For the purposes of this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless context clearly requires otherwise: (a) "Public institution of higher learning" or "institution" means any one (1) of the following, as stipulated in Section 37-101-1: (i) The University of Mississippi; (ii) Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science; (iii) Mississippi University for Women; (iv) The University of Southern Mississippi; (v) Delta State University; (vi) Alcorn State University; (vii) Jackson State University; (viii) Mississippi Valley State University; and (ix) Any other of like kind which may be hereafter established by the state. (b) "Community college" or "college" means any one (1) of the following: (i) Coahoma Community College; (ii) Copiah-Lincoln Community College; (iii) East Central Community College; (iv) East Mississippi Community College; (v) Hinds Community College; (vi) Holmes Community College; (vii) Itawamba Community College; (viii) Jones County Junior College; (ix) Meridian Community College; (x) Mississippi Delta Community College; (xi) Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College; (xii) Northeast Mississippi Community College; (xiii) Northwest Mississippi Community College; (xiv) Pearl River Community College; and (xv) Southwest Mississippi Community College. (c) "Dormitory" means a residence hall or other living facility owned, managed by or under the authority of a state institution of higher learning or community college that is used as a residence or sleeping place by one or more students. (d) "Coeducational dormitory" means any dormitory as described in paragraph (c) of this subsection that houses both male and female students in the same building. (e) "Common area" means any room or space in a dormitory shared by all students, including, but not limited to, kitchens, lounges, laundry rooms, study rooms and patios. (f) "Board" or "boards" means the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the Mississippi Community College Board, or both, as applicable. (g) "Student" means any person enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis in a state institution of higher learning or community college. (h) "Campus police" means any law enforcement office, department or entity that is tasked with protecting the people and property of an institution of higher learning or community college, including, but not limited to, a department maintained and employed by the institution. (i) "Male" means an individual who has, had, will have through the course of normal development, or would have had, but for a developmental anomaly, genetic anomaly, disease or injury, the reproductive system that at some point produces sperm. (j) "Female" means an individual who has, had, will have through the course of normal development, or would have had, but for a developmental anomaly, genetic anomaly, disease or injury, the reproductive system that at some point produces ova. (2) By October 1, 2025, each public institution of higher learning shall present to either the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the Mississippi Community College Board, as applicable, a report containing the following: (a) The number of dormitories or other student living accommodations located on the institution or college's campus or managed by the institution or college; (b) The number of coeducational dormitories located on the institution or college's campus or managed by the institution or college, as well as: (i) Whether male and female students live on the same floor of the dormitory; (ii) Whether male and female students live on the same hall of the dormitory; (iii) Whether common areas in coeducational dormitories are shared by male and female students; and (iv) Whether bathrooms in coeducational dormitories are shared by male and female students; (c) Any existing curfews in dormitories located on the institution or college's campus, including, but not limited to, curfews for visitors to a dormitory; (d) Policies for guests and visitors to dormitories located on an institution or college's campus, including guests and visitors of the opposite sex and minimum age requirements; (e) Method of access to each dormitory located on an institution or college's campus, including, but not limited to, swipe cards or keys; (f) Whether students at each institution or college have an option to live in single-sex dormitories or other student housing; (g) Any policies created and used by campus police or law enforcement in monitoring coeducational dormitories; (h) A comparison of the number of incidents that required a response by campus police or were reported to campus police in both coeducational dormitories and single-sex dormitories; and (i) A list of any policies, or notice of a lack thereof, that prohibits a person required to register under Section 45-33-25 from living in any dormitory or other student housing, including a sorority or fraternity house, at a public institution of higher learning or community or junior college. (3) By December 1, 2025, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board shall compile the reports submitted to them by individual institutions and submit a full report to the Legislature. SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Universities and Colleges
By: Senator(s) Williams
# Senate Bill 2221
## (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
AN ACT TO REQUIRE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO MAKE A REPORT TO EITHER THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING OR THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD ABOUT COEDUCATIONAL DORMITORIES ON THEIR CAMPUSES; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD TO MAKE A CONSOLIDATED REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT COEDUCATIONAL DORMITORIES ON ALL CAMPUSES UNDER THEIR PURVIEW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) For the purposes of this act, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Public institution of higher learning" or "institution" means any one (1) of the following, as stipulated in Section 37-101-1:
(i) The University of Mississippi;
(ii) Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science;
(iii) Mississippi University for Women;
(iv) The University of Southern Mississippi;
(v) Delta State University;
(vi) Alcorn State University;
(vii) Jackson State University;
(viii) Mississippi Valley State University; and
(ix) Any other of like kind which may be hereafter established by the state.
(b) "Community college" or "college" means any one (1) of the following:
(i) Coahoma Community College;
(ii) Copiah-Lincoln Community College;
(iii) East Central Community College;
(iv) East Mississippi Community College;
(v) Hinds Community College;
(vi) Holmes Community College;
(vii) Itawamba Community College;
(viii) Jones County Junior College;
(ix) Meridian Community College;
(x) Mississippi Delta Community College;
(xi) Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College;
(xii) Northeast Mississippi Community College;
(xiii) Northwest Mississippi Community College;
(xiv) Pearl River Community College; and
(xv) Southwest Mississippi Community College.
(c) "Dormitory" means a residence hall or other living facility owned, managed by or under the authority of a state institution of higher learning or community college that is used as a residence or sleeping place by one or more students.
(d) "Coeducational dormitory" means any dormitory as described in paragraph (c) of this subsection that houses both male and female students in the same building.
(e) "Common area" means any room or space in a dormitory shared by all students, including, but not limited to, kitchens, lounges, laundry rooms, study rooms and patios.
(f) "Board" or "boards" means the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the Mississippi Community College Board, or both, as applicable.
(g) "Student" means any person enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis in a state institution of higher learning or community college.
(h) "Campus police" means any law enforcement office, department or entity that is tasked with protecting the people and property of an institution of higher learning or community college, including, but not limited to, a department maintained and employed by the institution.
(i) "Male" means an individual who has, had, will have through the course of normal development, or would have had, but for a developmental anomaly, genetic anomaly, disease or injury, the reproductive system that at some point produces sperm.
(j) "Female" means an individual who has, had, will have through the course of normal development, or would have had, but for a developmental anomaly, genetic anomaly, disease or injury, the reproductive system that at some point produces ova.
(2) By October 1, 2025, each public institution of higher learning shall present to either the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the Mississippi Community College Board, as applicable, a report containing the following:
(a) The number of dormitories or other student living accommodations located on the institution or college's campus or managed by the institution or college;
(b) The number of coeducational dormitories located on the institution or college's campus or managed by the institution or college, as well as:
(i) Whether male and female students live on the same floor of the dormitory;
(ii) Whether male and female students live on the same hall of the dormitory;
(iii) Whether common areas in coeducational dormitories are shared by male and female students; and
(iv) Whether bathrooms in coeducational dormitories are shared by male and female students;
(c) Any existing curfews in dormitories located on the institution or college's campus, including, but not limited to, curfews for visitors to a dormitory;
(d) Policies for guests and visitors to dormitories located on an institution or college's campus, including guests and visitors of the opposite sex and minimum age requirements;
(e) Method of access to each dormitory located on an institution or college's campus, including, but not limited to, swipe cards or keys;
(f) Whether students at each institution or college have an option to live in single-sex dormitories or other student housing;
(g) Any policies created and used by campus police or law enforcement in monitoring coeducational dormitories;
(h) A comparison of the number of incidents that required a response by campus police or were reported to campus police in both coeducational dormitories and single-sex dormitories; and
(i) A list of any policies, or notice of a lack thereof, that prohibits a person required to register under Section 45-33-25 from living in any dormitory or other student housing, including a sorority or fraternity house, at a public institution of higher learning or community or junior college.
(3) By December 1, 2025, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board shall compile the reports submitted to them by individual institutions and submit a full report to the Legislature.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.