Public Health and Welfare

Notified of Return

Notified of Return

HB 1637 creates a Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Panel within Mississippi's State Department of Health to examine fetal deaths and infant deaths under one year old and develop prevention strategies. The panel must collect data from medical examiners, hospitals, health departments, and providers on causes and demographics of infant deaths, then submit annual reports to legislative committees with recommendations for state resource allocation. The bill requires health facilities to provide medical records to the panel while protecting all panel data as confidential, exempting it from public records laws and court disclosure. This affects healthcare providers, health departments, and state agencies responsible for sharing mortality data.

HB 1772 extends the repeal dates for specific Mississippi laws establishing the Department of Human Services (DHS). It delays the sunset of Sections 43-1-1, 43-1-2, and 43-1-3 (among others) from July 1, 2029, to a later date specified in the bill. The bill directly affects the DHS structure, maintaining its current legal framework, including the Executive Director's role, oversight committee, and operational authority. This is a procedural adjustment to prevent automatic repeal of these foundational DHS statutes, with no new policy changes or program modifications.

Notified of Approval