Birthing centers; delete requirement to have written transfer agreement with a hospital in order to be licensed.

HB 143 would have changed Mississippi's licensing rules for birthing centers by removing the requirement for a written agreement with a specific hospital. Instead, it would have mandated centers to create a written transfer plan meeting American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) standards - including coordination with emergency services, regular hospital notifications, and staff training on transfer protocols. The bill aimed to standardize emergency care transitions without tying centers to individual hospitals. The proposed changes would have applied to all licensed birthing centers in Mississippi. The bill died in committee in February 2026.