Catastrophic injury; limit noneconomic damages for.

HB 548 would have capped noneconomic damages (like pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life) for certain serious injury cases in Mississippi. It set specific limits: $500,000 for medical malpractice, $1 million for most other civil cases, and $3 million for cases involving catastrophic injuries, illnesses, or death (defined as severe conditions like spinal cord injuries, amputations, severe brain injuries, or burns covering significant body surface). The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, would have applied to cases filed on or after January 1, 2025, but did not change how economic damages (like medical bills) are calculated. This is a procedural policy change affecting only the amount recoverable for non-financial harms in specific lawsuits.