HB 1152, the "Right to Try Medical Cannabis Act," creates a new pathway for Mississippi patients with chronic, progressive, severely disabling, or terminal illnesses not currently covered under the state’s medical cannabis program to access medical cannabis. It allows a patient’s treating doctor (physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant) to submit a petition to the State Department of Health detailing the diagnosis, treatment history, and rationale for cannabis use, including proof that conventional therapies were ineffective or unavailable. The State Health Officer makes the final, non-appealable decision within 45 days, and approved patients become eligible for a registry card but must undergo annual reevaluations by their provider. The bill does not expand existing qualifying conditions but adds this specific process for uncovered serious illnesses, with the Department retaining authority to limit cannabis type, form, or quantity for public health safety.
This bill reorganizes existing legal sections related to Mississippi's opioid settlement fund without changing fund allocation rules. It details the composition of the Mississippi Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Council (12 voting members including the Attorney General, State Health Officer, and appointed officials, plus 19 nonvoting advisory members from health and legal organizations). The council's role is to review grant applications funded by opioid settlements and recommend recipients to the Legislature, ensuring transparency and accountability in fund use. The bill specifically references Sections 41-153-1, 27-103-305, and 27-103-305.1 of the Mississippi Code for potential future amendments.
SB 2474 creates a pilot program allowing up to three rural hospitals in Mississippi to operate outpatient dialysis units, ambulatory surgical facilities, or geriatric psychiatric units without requiring standard certificate of need approvals. To qualify, hospitals must be located in counties without municipalities exceeding 15,000 residents (or in Washington County), and new units must be within five miles of the hospital’s main location as of January 1, 2026. The bill modifies existing licensing rules to permit these exceptions, with the state health officer’s approval decisions being final - only allowing limited reconsideration requests within seven days. This directly affects qualifying rural hospitals seeking to expand specific services without lengthy regulatory hurdles.
SB 2477 requires competitive bidding for vendors providing goods, services, or technology to the state using funds from Mississippi's Rural Health Transformation Program (federal Public Law 119-21). It mandates that direct state vendors must compete through formal bidding, excluding emergency purchases or exceptions. The bill prioritizes subgrantees in "super rural" zip codes (per CMS), counties with health shortages, high maternal mortality, low income, or lacking hospitals. Additionally, agencies must submit quarterly reports on program spending to the legislature.
SB 2543 enacts Mississippi's participation in the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, allowing dentists and dental hygienists to practice across participating states more easily. The bill creates a shared system where licensees pass a uniform national exam (ADEX) and maintain one set of documents for streamlined licensure in multiple states, eliminating duplicate fees. It specifically waives application fees for military members and their spouses seeking licensure in new states. Each participating state retains full authority to regulate dental practice within its borders while sharing information to protect public safety.
