MississippiHB 16372026 Regular SessionHouse

Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Panel; create under State Department of Health.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Public Health and Human ServicesPublic Health and Welfare

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

State panel reviews fetal and infant deaths

The law creates a state panel to review fetal deaths and deaths of infants up to one year old. It reviews sudden, unexpected deaths of infants and children, including SIDS, SUID, and SDY cases, using nationally recognized practices and relevant health information. The Health Department checks that these cases and related vaccine reactions were reported to the proper registries and reports any that were not. By December 1 each year, the panel reports death counts, causes, demographics, and recommendations to two state legislative health committees.

Agencies and providers share death records

Agencies and officials must provide information the panel requests for its death and near-death reviews. Doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies must give reasonable access to relevant records, including records of the person who died and their birth mother. The panel sets the deadline and may extend it for documented good cause. Before enforcement, it must give written notice and may allow up to 10 business days to fix a failure, unless delay would harm its work. The panel or Health Department may seek legal remedies, and a court may award reasonable costs, including attorney’s fees; providers are protected for good-faith record sharing.

Private records and meetings for death reviews

Starting July 1, 2026, records used in required Health Department mortality reviews, including child, maternal, and fetal and infant death reviews, are confidential. Review materials generally cannot be released, used as evidence, subpoenaed, or obtained through discovery, and panel members generally cannot be questioned about review proceedings. The Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Panel is exempt from the state open-meetings law, and the Health Department may close required review meetings to discuss confidential matters. Final decisions on general policies, rules, or regulations must remain open unless another law allows otherwise. Public or independently available information is not covered by these limits.

Sensitive radiation records stay private

Some Health Department records about radioactive materials and radiation devices are confidential when they could reveal sensitive details, such as their location, amount, security, or transport. Records identifying certain licensees are also confidential when disclosure could create a health, safety, or security risk. The public generally cannot inspect, copy, subpoena, or obtain these records through discovery. Government agencies may receive them for official work, and nonidentifying statistics and summaries remain public.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 345 • No: 0

House vote • 3/31/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 121 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 52 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/11/2026

Passed As Amended

Yes: 51 • No: 0

House vote • 2/4/2026

Passed