HB 1296 Mississippi House · 2026 Regular Session

Amniotic fluid embolism; direct Health Dept. to conduct educational activities for providers and patients about signs, symptoms and management of.

HB 1296, known as "Maeghan's Law," requires Mississippi's State Department of Health to create educational materials about amniotic fluid embolism (a rare, serious obstetric emergency where amniotic fluid enters the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular collapse and other complications) for healthcare providers, patients, and the public. The bill mandates that the Health Department develop these materials and post them on its website, focusing on recognizing signs, symptoms, and management of the condition. This law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and directly affects healthcare systems, pregnant individuals, and their families by improving awareness of a critical but uncommon medical risk.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2026 Last action Mar 3, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced Current version · 8 edits
MODERATE
This bill was significantly expanded from its original version to address a broader range of maternal and infant health issues. The original version focused solely on amniotic fluid embolism education, while the current version adds requirements for data reporting, blood pressure monitoring programs, doula certification studies, and fatherhood engagement initiatives. These changes reflect a more comprehensive approach to improving maternal and infant health outcomes in Mississippi.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a single focus on amniotic fluid embolism education to include multiple maternal health initiatives including data collection, blood pressure monitoring, doula certification, and fatherhood engagement programs.
REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for the State Department of Health to report data and statistics on amniotic fluid embolism cases to the Child Death Review Panel and Maternal Mortality Review Committee.

Created a pilot program for self-measurement blood pressure monitoring for pregnant and postpartum women, including coverage and reimbursement for validated devices and patient education.

Amended physician license renewal requirements to include one hour of continuing medical education on nutrition and metabolic health, plus acknowledgment of maternal and infant mortality reports.

Established a study on doula certification requirements, including training programs, registry, and reimbursement models, with a report due by December 31, 2026.

Created a public awareness campaign on fatherhood engagement in maternal health, with the campaign to begin no later than July 1, 2028.

Added requirements for maternity care providers to post guidance materials on fatherhood engagement and encourage paternal depression screening during prenatal care.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Enrollee' (individuals with high-risk pregnancies) and 'Postpartum' (within one year of delivery) to support the blood pressure monitoring program.

ENFORCEMENT

Added criminal background check requirements for physicians seeking license reinstatement after five or more years of expiration, including fingerprint-based checks with state and federal databases.

Floor votes · House Feb 12, 2026

How they voted

1190
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 122
Feb 12, 2026
D Democratic40
39 Yea 1
97% Yea
I Independent2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican80
78 Yea 2
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred To Public Health and Welfare
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
Transmitted To Senate
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed As Amended
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass
lower
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
Referred To Public Health and Human Services
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jansen Owen
Jansen Owen
RRepublican
MS
106