Independent flight control authority; provide during flu season when ICU capacity is below 10% at any time for burn victims.

SB 2539, a proposed Mississippi bill that died in committee in February 2026, would have granted the State Department of Health authority to direct medical air transport flights during specific health emergencies. It would have required the health department to coordinate air traffic for hospital transfers if ICU bed availability dropped below 10% during flu season (October 1-March 1 or designated periods) or at any time for burn victims requiring urgent transfer. The bill aimed to prevent delays threatening patient safety by enabling health officials to override standard air traffic protocols. It was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026, but never became law.