Abortion trafficking; create penalties for the crime of.

HB 1542 creates a new criminal offense called "abortion trafficking" in Mississippi, specifically targeting adults who transport unemancipated minors (under 18, not legally independent) across state lines for abortions with parental consent. The law prohibits recruiting, harboring, or transporting such minors for abortion procedures, imposing felony penalties of 2-5 years in prison or $1,000-$10,000 fines upon conviction. It explicitly states parental consent does not serve as a defense against trafficking charges, and it allows the state attorney general to prosecute if local prosecutors refuse. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.