HB 1908 allocates $585.5 million in state funds for Mississippi's Department of Health operations during fiscal year 2027. It specifically directs $34 million to the Trauma Care System, $20 million from tobacco funds to UMMC's cancer institute and tobacco control programs, and $4.25 million to the University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Institute. The bill also funds programs like maternal health, breast/cervical cancer screenings, and health center grants. These funds support public health services and infrastructure across Mississippi, including trauma care networks and cancer treatment initiatives.
Mississippi's HB 1541 would ban the mailing or distribution of abortion-inducing medications within the state, targeting any medicine that causes an abortion prohibited under Mississippi law. It directly affects individuals or entities (like pharmacies or mail-order services) that manufacture, sell, mail, or distribute such medications, or advertise their availability. Violators face fines up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and is not currently law.
SB 2364, if passed, would establish a legal right for individuals to obtain contraception (including birth control pills, IUDs, and condoms) and for healthcare providers to offer it. The bill prohibits Mississippi state or local governments from restricting access to FDA-approved contraceptive methods, requiring any such restrictions to be justified by significant safety concerns and proven to be the least restrictive option. It allows individuals, healthcare providers, or the Attorney General to sue if these rights are violated, seeking court orders to stop the restriction. The bill, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, but does not affect existing insurance coverage requirements for contraception.
HB 1623 creates the Mississippi HBCU Maternal Health Workforce Pipeline Program to address maternal health disparities in underserved communities. It establishes a 5-year initiative co-administered by Mississippi's Department of Health (MSDH) and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, targeting students at Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, and Mississippi Valley State University. The program provides scholarships with tuition support, stipends, and training for students pursuing maternal health careers (including doulas, nurses, and mental health specialists), requiring a 2-year service commitment in designated shortage areas for each year of support received. Funding of $10 million annually ($50 million total over five years) is allocated through a dedicated Maternal Health Pipeline Fund to support scholarships and workforce development. The bill mandates tracking of enrollment, credentialing, job placements, and health access metrics to evaluate program impact.
HB 1681 creates the Maternal and Family Transportation Program to provide free transportation for pregnant women, new mothers (up to 18 months postpartum), and families with children under six. The program covers trips to medical appointments, WIC services, pharmacies, grocery stores for WIC redemptions, and childcare centers. The State Department of Health will administer the program, requiring transportation providers to meet safety standards (like child car seats and driver training) and use a mobile app for ride tracking and appointment reminders. This aims to reduce transportation barriers contributing to Mississippi’s high maternal and infant health disparities.
HB 1004, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, proposed creating a voluntary state program for high school reproductive health education. The bill would have required parental permission for students aged 16+ to participate in curriculum covering reproductive anatomy, contraception, STI prevention, and healthy relationships, delivered by trained medical professionals or advocates. School districts could opt in to receive state support, but participation would not affect academic standing, and the curriculum must be inclusive and evidence-based. The program was intended to be funded through state budgets or grants, with annual reviews mandated, though it never advanced beyond committee.
HB 979 requires Mississippi's Medicaid program to exclude any healthcare provider or organization that performs, refers for, or is connected through ownership, management, or common control with abortion services not permitted under state law. Providers must sign a sworn statement confirming they do not engage in such activities, and the Medicaid division must terminate contracts with non-compliant entities. This directly affects clinics, doctors, and healthcare organizations offering or affiliated with abortion services, potentially ending their Medicaid participation. The law updates Medicaid provider rules to align with state policy prohibiting public funding for abortion-related care.
SB 2542, the Mississippi Maternal Health Protection Act, died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted. If passed, it would have required public health programs to provide 12 months of postpartum care (including mental health and substance use treatment) and mandated hospitals to adopt evidence-based safety protocols for hemorrhage, hypertension, and emergency transport. The bill also required facilities to report maternal health data, establish a Maternal Mortality Review Committee to identify systemic causes of deaths, and create a transportation fund for rural emergencies. It directly aimed to improve maternal health outcomes for mothers in Mississippi, particularly in rural and low-income communities facing limited access to care.
HB 1094, the Mississippi Breastfeeding Support and Equity Act, requires maternal health care facilities (like hospitals and clinics) to adopt breastfeeding-supportive policies, provide pre-discharge counseling to mothers, and visibly post the state's "Breastfeeding in Mississippi: Guidelines" in public areas. It also mandates employers to provide reasonable break time and private spaces for nursing employees during work hours and makes it a misdemeanor to interfere with a mother breastfeeding in public. The bill directly affects new mothers, health care facilities, and employers across Mississippi, aiming to remove barriers through policy changes rather than legal restrictions. These provisions replace older statutes and align with state health guidelines promoting breastfeeding benefits.
HB 83 appropriates $500,000 from Mississippi's State General Fund to the Department of Health for implementing an Obstetrics (OB) System of Care during fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). The bill directs the state to standardize and regionalize maternal and infant healthcare, improve transfer systems between facilities, and clarify care level designations. This funding directly supports hospitals and healthcare providers delivering obstetric services across Mississippi. The legislation focuses on operational changes to enhance care coordination, with no new taxes or regulations beyond the allocated budget.
