HB 116 Mississippi House · 2025 Regular Session

Alzheimer's disease and dementia; require State Department of Health to include education into existing public health programs.

HB 116 requires Mississippi's State Department of Health to add Alzheimer's disease and dementia education to its existing public health programs. It mandates clear public outreach about brain health, early warning signs, and risk reduction - especially for high-risk groups - and trains healthcare providers on proven tools for early detection and Medicare billing. The bill directly affects Mississippi residents, particularly seniors and caregivers, by improving access to dementia-related information through current health initiatives. It does not create new programs but integrates education into existing outreach and provider training efforts. (Note: The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025.)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → Current version · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to expand the State Department of Health's authority and duties, particularly adding new powers related to rural health initiatives, telemedicine regulation, and emergency enforcement capabilities. The changes also include new provisions for licensing transfers and certificate renewals for home health agencies and long-term care facilities, along with expanded study requirements on healthcare access and workforce issues.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily Alzheimer's disease education to include broader public health authority enhancements, rural health programs, and emergency health enforcement powers.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for the State Department of Health to establish an Office of Rural Health with specific duties including data collection, policy analysis, and technical assistance for community health systems.

Added new authority to regulate telemedicine delivery and electronic records for telemedicine services through rulemaking.

Added authority to transfer home health agency licenses between agencies and extend/renew expired certificates of need with associated fee structures.

Added mandate for the State Board of Health and State Health Officer to conduct comprehensive studies on healthcare access, costs, workforce availability, and facility distribution across the state.

Modified Section 41-3-15 to bring forward updated powers and duties for the State Department of Health and State Board of Health with expanded responsibilities.

ENFORCEMENT

Added emergency enforcement powers allowing the State Department of Health to revoke licenses, require facility closures, and detain individuals for disease control purposes.

TIMELINE

Added effective date of July 1, 2025 for the new provisions.

Floor votes · House Feb 12, 2025

How they voted

116–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 119

Feb 12, 2025

D Democratic39

39 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican78

75 Yea 3

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred To Public Health and Welfare

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

lower

Jan 10, 2025

Committee

Referred To Public Health and Human Services

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors