SB 2354 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Recreationally used or abused substances; create screening program for within the Department of Health.

SB 2354 would have created a screening program within Mississippi's Department of Health to approve or deny over-the-counter sales of products containing substances with potential for recreational misuse (like bath salts or kratom). Manufacturers would need state health officer approval before selling such products, with an appeal process available for denials. The bill also established a task force to study alternative funding for prescription drugs and their impact on patient access. However, the bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → Current version · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended from a Committee Substitute version to reflect changes after passing the Senate. The most significant change is the addition of a new task force to study alternative funding programs and their impact on patient access to affordable prescription drugs in Mississippi. The effective date and repeal date remain unchanged at July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025 respectively, though this creates a logical inconsistency as the act would take effect and be repealed on the same day. Minor formatting and capitalization changes were also made throughout the document.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include the creation of a task force studying alternative funding programs for prescription drugs, while maintaining the original provisions for over-the-counter availability approval.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 6 establishes a task force consisting of Mississippi Rare Disease Advisory Council members to study alternative funding programs and their effect on patient access to affordable prescription drugs, with a report due by December 1, 2025.

The task force must include a physician member who chairs the group, with council staff providing administrative support.

Task force members serve without compensation but may receive travel reimbursement, and the first meeting must be convened by May 15, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Minor capitalization changes throughout the document, including changing 'state health officer' to 'State Health Officer' in several instances.

Changed the bill title from 'Committee Substitute' to 'As Passed the Senate' to reflect its legislative status.

Added language to the purposes section about creating the task force to study alternative funding programs.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2025

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 13, 2025

D Democratic16

16 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican35

35 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred To Drug Policy;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed As Amended

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Drug Policy

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors