DHS and Medicaid; Governor shall select private auditor to determine their compliance with certain laws.

HB 1438 requires Mississippi's Governor to appoint a private auditor by June 1, 2026, to audit the Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS) and Medicaid Division for compliance with federal and state laws on welfare eligibility and fraud prevention. The audit would examine specific areas like eligibility verification systems, fraud referral practices, data sharing with other agencies, and adherence to existing laws like the Medicaid Transparency and Fraud Protection Act. The auditor must submit annual reports detailing findings to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and House Speaker by January 1, 2027, and each subsequent year. This bill, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, did not become law and remains a proposed measure.