Mississippi lawmakers on Tuesday sent competing teacher pay bills to a conference committee for final negotiation, as the Legislature works to resolve a session-long fight over raises for a state with among the lowest average teacher pay in the country, lawmakers said.
The Senate plan would phase in a $6,000 raise over three years, while the House proposal would deliver an immediate $5,000 increase, according to legislative leaders and bill texts.
Senate Education Chairman Sen. Dennis DeBar, R-Leakesville, had told reporters earlier that the House proposal would not be considered in his chamber. Lawmakers said the House bill was nevertheless brought to the Senate floor Tuesday and sent to further negotiations. The House declined to accept the Senate plan that same morning, lawmakers said.
Legislative leaders will appoint three representatives and three senators to negotiate a final proposal. The House’s nearly 500-page bill includes other changes, including revisions to the state retirement system, and any negotiated bill would return to both chambers for final votes, lawmakers said.
