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MississippiSB 27412025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Professional music therapists; provide for licensure by State Department of Health.

Sponsored By: Parker

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.

Music therapy clients gain safety rules

Licensed music therapists must review clients' needs and plans with involved health providers before services, or the applicable special education team. For clients with communication disorders, they must work with an audiologist or speech-language pathologist. Music therapy does not include screening, diagnosing, or assessing physical, mental, or communication disorders. Therapists cannot replace audiology, speech-language, or occupational therapy services, or provide speech-language or swallowing care without separate speech-language authorization. The state can investigate false information, lost certification, unpaid fees, failure to provide requested information, certain convictions, unsafe practice, client sexual contact, and discipline elsewhere. Sanctions include license denial, nonrenewal, suspension, revocation, probation, reprimand, and fines of $100 to $1,000 per violation. Collected penalties go to the State General Fund.

Music therapists get licenses and title limits

Beginning July 1, 2025, Mississippi's Department of Health licenses professional music therapists. Applicants must be at least 18, meet music therapy degree and clinical-training standards, and show board certification or documented progress toward certification. Applicants licensed elsewhere must be in good standing; reciprocity requires qualifications equal to or higher than Mississippi's. Separate state licensing rules cover military-trained applicants, military spouses, and people establishing Mississippi residence. A special route requires 10 years of practice before July 1, 2025, including the five years immediately before that date. It also requires Advisory Committee approval of substantially equivalent practice and licensure no later than January 1, 2026. Beginning January 1, 2026, unlicensed people cannot use “Licensed Professional Music Therapist,” “LPMT,” or similar titles. Specified professionals, certified practitioners, students, and supervised workers can continue permitted work without claiming that title.

Cancer planning panel gets expense reimbursement

Effective upon passage, the law creates a Mississippi cancer care task force to plan prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship care. It brings together lawmakers, state agencies, health providers, insurers, advocates, industry representatives, and three cancer survivors. Appointments are due within 30 days, organization within 15 days after appointments, and meetings at least quarterly. Its plan and any recommended legislation are due December 1, 2025; the law provides for dissolution upon plan submission. The Department of Health supplies staff support, and members receive no pay. Members who are not state employees can receive mileage and actual expense reimbursement, but only when funds are available.

Music therapists face fees and renewals

Music therapists must renew licenses every two years, pay renewal fees, maintain board certification, and have no chapter violation when applying. They must also report address changes. Failure to renew forfeits the license, but paying renewal and restoration fees restores it within one year after expiration. After one year without restoration, the license ends automatically and the therapist must reapply. Therapists can request inactive status for up to two years by paying a fee; return requires a written request and department-set conditions. The State Board of Health sets application, licensing, renewal, late-renewal, restoration, inactive-status, and other fees; the law sets no dollar amounts. It must consult a five-member Music Therapy Advisory Committee, which also advises the department and reviews discipline each year. Licensing fees support administration through a special fund, but spending requires legislative approval; unused money and interest stay in that fund.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Parker

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Jason T Barrett

    Republican • Senate

  • Kevin Blackwell

    Republican • Senate

  • Jeremy England

    Republican • Senate

  • Reginald Jackson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jeff Tate

    Republican • Senate

  • Bart Williams

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 310 • No: 11

House vote • 4/1/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 111 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/29/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 42 • No: 3

House vote • 3/11/2025

Passed As Amended

Yes: 109 • No: 5

Senate vote • 2/13/2025

Passed As Amended

Yes: 48 • No: 2 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor

    4/10/2025legislature

  2. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/7/2025House

  3. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/7/2025Senate

  4. Motion to Reconsider Tabled

    4/2/2025House

  5. Motion to Reconsider Entered (Creekmore IV, Felsher)

    4/1/2025House

  6. Conference Report Adopted

    4/1/2025House

  7. Conference Report Adopted

    3/29/2025Senate

  8. Conference Report Filed

    3/28/2025House

  9. Conference Report Filed

    3/28/2025Senate

  10. Conferees Named Creekmore IV,Felsher,Waldo

    3/20/2025House

  11. Conferees Named Bryan,Parker,Wiggins

    3/20/2025Senate

  12. Decline to Concur/Invite Conf

    3/13/2025Senate

  13. Returned For Concurrence

    3/12/2025House

  14. Motion to Reconsider Tabled

    3/12/2025House

  15. Motion to Reconsider Entered (Scoggin, Creekmore IV, Felsher)

    3/11/2025House

  16. Passed As Amended

    3/11/2025House

  17. Amended

    3/11/2025House

  18. Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

    3/4/2025House

  19. Referred To Public Health and Human Services

    2/18/2025House

  20. Transmitted To House

    2/17/2025Senate

  21. Passed As Amended

    2/13/2025Senate

  22. Amended

    2/13/2025Senate

  23. Title Suff Do Pass

    2/4/2025Senate

  24. Referred To Public Health and Welfare

    1/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

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