SB 2708 requires healthcare providers in Mississippi to screen new mothers for postpartum depression within six weeks of birth. It mandates that health insurance issuers cover this screening without deductibles or copays and prohibits step therapy protocols for FDA-approved depression treatments. The bill also requires hospitals to provide educational materials about maternal mental health to new parents and mandates the state health department to develop resources for providers and patients. These provisions directly affect new mothers, healthcare providers, and insurers across Mississippi.
SB 2141, titled the "Protecting Women and Children Act," creates a private civil lawsuit allowing individuals to sue those who distribute abortion-inducing drugs in Mississippi, including through internet platforms or mail. The bill prohibits manufacturing, mailing, distributing, or facilitating access to such drugs within the state, but exempts internet service providers, search engines, and cloud services that only offer basic access (not content creation or modification). It defines key terms like "abortion-inducing drug" and "abortion assistance organization" to clarify who is affected, and specifies that enforcement occurs solely through private lawsuits - not criminal penalties. The law aims to address the distribution of these drugs while protecting certain internet services from liability.
HB 1389 establishes a licensure and regulatory system for professional midwives in Mississippi under the State Department of Health, creating a Midwifery Advisory Council to develop rules by July 2027. It requires health insurance plans covering maternity care to also cover services provided by licensed midwives within their scope of practice (same as physician services), prohibits discriminatory language about midwifery in coverage plans, and clarifies that midwifery is not considered medical practice. The bill directly affects licensed midwives (who must obtain a license to practice), healthcare insurers (required to cover midwifery services), and patients seeking community-based birth care. Key provisions include mandatory licensure, standardized scope of practice, confidentiality protections, and mechanisms to increase access to midwifery care in Mississippi communities.
HB 1493, the Mississippi Maternal Health Momnibus Act, would establish a grant program to fund community-based organizations providing maternal health services specifically for Black women, focusing on reducing maternal mortality and severe complications. The bill requires health care professionals in perinatal care to complete implicit bias training and exempts baby products like diapers, formula, and wipes from sales tax. It also expands Medicaid coverage to include services from this program, addressing social determinants such as housing, nutrition, transportation, and mental health support. These provisions target communities with high rates of racial disparities in maternal health outcomes.
HB 55 (Mississippi Code § 97-3-5) would prohibit the manufacture, mail order, sale, distribution, or advertising of medicines that cause abortions prohibited under Mississippi law. It directly affects pharmacies, healthcare providers, and anyone distributing such medicines within the state, making these actions a felony punishable by fines ($1,000-$10,000) and/or 2-5 years in prison. The bill specifically targets mail-order access to abortion-inducing medicines, expanding existing restrictions to include online or mailed delivery. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and would not take effect (as planned for July 1, 2026), so it remains unenacted.
HB 35 creates a 3-year pilot program in Sunflower and Jones counties to provide cash assistance to pregnant women facing acute economic hardship during pregnancy and for 12 months after birth. It offers $1,500 in prenatal payments (in three $500 installments) and $500 monthly for the infant’s first year, funded through a mix of public (using TANF for Medicaid-covered cases) and private sources. The program ensures these payments are excluded from income calculations for other benefits like Medicaid or SNAP, and requires the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to track health outcomes - including prenatal care rates, preterm births, and NICU admissions - over the pilot period. This is a targeted economic support initiative, not a broad policy change.
