SB 2194 clarifies the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners' authority to regulate dental hygienists working under dentist supervision and sets specific record retention rules. It requires dentists to keep patient records (including X-rays) for 10 years (general records) or 3 years (X-rays and images), with exceptions for minors' records. The bill directly affects dentists, dental hygienists, and the Board by defining their regulatory responsibilities. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.
SB 2200 would have revised Mississippi's definition of podiatric medicine to explicitly include treatment of the foot, ankle, and related structures (such as lower leg muscles and tendons up to the tibial tubercle). It would have clarified that podiatrists - defined as physicians specializing in this field - can prescribe certain medications (excluding general/spinal anesthesia) and perform both conservative and surgical treatments for these areas. The Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure would have been required to establish rules governing podiatrists' training standards. This bill would have directly affected licensed podiatrists and their patients receiving foot/ankle care in Mississippi. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.)
SB 2198 would require Mississippi to deny SNAP and Medicaid benefits to non-citizens unless they meet specific federal definitions of "eligible alien" and "qualified alien" under 8 U.S.C. § 1641(b). It mandates that state agencies verify citizenship or immigration status during enrollment and eligibility reviews using federal systems like SAVE, and requires hospitals accepting Medicaid to collect and report patient immigration status during registration. The bill also obligates agencies to submit information about undocumented individuals or those unable to verify status to federal authorities, and to report quarterly hospital data on patient status to state officials. This would directly affect non-citizen residents applying for food assistance or healthcare coverage in Mississippi. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 597 would establish a $5 million Mississippi Municipality and County Fire Station Building Fund administered by MEMA to provide grants for renovating or upgrading local fire stations. Municipalities and counties could apply for reimbursements covering 50% of project costs, requiring a local match, with applications evaluated based on community impact, project readiness, and benefits to disadvantaged areas. The fund would be initially funded by $5 million transferred from the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.
HB 596 creates the Mississippi Child Poverty Task Force to analyze and address child poverty in the state. The task force, composed of balanced legislative members, nonprofit representatives, and state agency officials, is required to study poverty’s root causes, evaluate existing efforts, and develop strategies to improve economic opportunities for affected families. It must submit final recommendations to the legislature by July 2027, including potential policy changes. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
SB 2196, the "No Patient Left Alone Act," requires healthcare facilities to allow visitors for patients during admissions or residency under specific circumstances, including end-of-life care, emotional distress, or when a patient needs family assistance with eating/drinking. Facilities must develop alternate visitation plans during health/safety restrictions (while maximizing visits) and submit annual visitation policies to the Mississippi Department of Health for approval by January 1. Violations - such as failing to correct policy deficiencies or restricting visits without justification - can trigger administrative fines of at least $500 per violation, with each day of non-compliance counted separately. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and mandates facilities to inform patients of their visitation rights and provide contact details for reporting violations.
HB 618 would have authorized up to three locally sponsored virtual public schools in Mississippi, operated by school districts, regional agencies, or "districts of innovation." It required free enrollment for all Mississippi students regardless of residency, mandated funding transfers from a student's home district to the virtual school operator (based on local tax levies), and set standards for technology access and teacher qualifications. The bill also limited new virtual schools to three total statewide, with districts needing to apply for a slot starting in 2026. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.
Mississippi HB 604 prohibits Mississippi courts from enforcing foreign laws - including Sharia law - in contracts or court decisions that conflict with constitutional rights. It voids marriage and child custody contracts referencing foreign law, bans foreign law in family court cases (like custody or paternity), and requires all rulings to follow U.S. or state law. The law defines "foreign law" broadly to exclude U.S. federal/state laws and constitutional protections. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 609, the "Tim Tebow Act," would allow homeschool students in Mississippi to participate in public school sports and activities like band or athletics, provided they meet academic requirements. Homeschool students would need to submit proof of academic progress (such as test scores, a portfolio, or prior school records) and follow the same behavioral and eligibility rules as public school students. The bill prohibits schools from discriminating against eligible homeschool students in team selections and clarifies that participation is a privilege, not a right. This proposed law died in committee on February 3, 2026, and is not currently in effect.
The Education Efficiency Act (HB 608) creates a task force to study whether consolidating Mississippi school districts - particularly in counties with multiple districts or districts spanning two counties - would improve educational efficiency. The task force will gather data on student enrollment, administrative costs, district accreditation, and socio-economic factors to assess feasibility and potential savings. It must produce a detailed report with consolidation recommendations by December 31, 2025, for the legislature and governor. This bill directly affects school districts in multi-district counties and aims to address operational efficiency through evidence-based analysis.
HB 607 removes a requirement that physical therapists must have prior work experience to work at Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) centers in Mississippi. The bill amends licensing standards to eliminate this specific experience mandate, directly affecting physical therapists seeking employment at these specialized pediatric care facilities. Key provisions change Section 41-125-19 of Mississippi law to state that the licensing agency "may not require physical therapists to have prior work experience" at PPEC centers. The bill, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.
HB 620 requires Mississippi casinos to withhold a portion of a parent’s winnings from slot machines or cash games to pay unpaid child support arrears. It directly affects parents with outstanding child support obligations who win money at licensed casinos. Key provisions include mandating the Gaming Commission to create rules for intercepting winnings (like regular slot machine payouts), requiring real-time data sharing between the Department of Human Services and casinos, and shielding casinos from liability for following these rules. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
