HB1085 • 2026

Mississippi National Guard Servicemembers Medical Readiness Act.

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD SERVICEMEMBERS MEDICAL READINESS ACT; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD TRICARE PREMIUM REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM TO AWARD GRANTS TO REIMBURSE CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD FOR THE COST OF PREMIUMS FOR INDIVIDUAL COVERAGE THROUGH THE TRICARE RESERVE SELECT PROGRAM AND/OR THE TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI MILITARY DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF MISSISSIPPI TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON THE PROGRAM TO THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Healthcare

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Carpenter, Hulum, Hall, Harris, Hobgood-Wilkes, Mattox, Morgan, Anthony
Last action: 2026-03-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and therefore does not have an effective date or ongoing requirements for annual approval.

Mississippi National Guard Servicemembers Medical Readiness Act

This bill establishes a program to help members of the Mississippi National Guard pay for their health and dental insurance through TRICARE, with oversight by the Mississippi Military Department.

What This Bill Does

Creates the 'Mississippi National Guard Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program'.
Provides grants to eligible members of the Mississippi National Guard to cover costs for individual coverage in the TRICARE Reserve Select and/or TRICARE Dental programs.
Requires the Mississippi Military Department to manage the program, set rules, verify eligibility, disburse funds, and track its impact on readiness.

Who It Names or Affects

Members of the Mississippi National Guard who need health or dental insurance through TRICARE but do not get it from a civilian job.

Terms To Know

TRICARE: A healthcare program for military members and their families, including those in the National Guard.
Adjutant General of Mississippi: The top official who leads the Mississippi Military Department.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass during its session.
It needs yearly funding approval to continue.

Bill History

2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/03 (S) Died In Committee
2026-02-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/19 (S) DR - TSDPAA: VM To AP
2026-02-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/16 (S) Referred To Veterans and Military Affairs;Appropriations
2026-02-06 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/06 (H) Transmitted To Senate
2026-02-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/05 (H) Passed
2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) DR - TSDP: AP To MA
2026-01-21 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/21 (H) DR - TSDP: MA To AP
2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/16 (H) Referred To Military Affairs;Appropriations A

Official Summary Text

Mississippi National Guard Servicemembers Medical Readiness Act.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 1085 *HR31/R67* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G2/3
26/HR31/R67
PAGE 1 (BS\JAB)

To: Military Affairs;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Carpenter, Hulum, Hall,
Harris, Hobgood-Wilkes, Mattox, Morgan,
Anthony

HOUSE BILL NO. 1085

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD 1
SERVICEMEMBERS MEDICAL READINESS ACT; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI 2
NATIONAL GUARD TRICARE PREMIUM REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM TO AWARD 3
GRANTS TO REIMBURSE CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD FOR THE 4
COST OF PREMIUMS FOR INDIVIDUAL COVERAGE THROUGH THE TRICARE 5
RESERVE SELECT PROGRAM AND/OR THE TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM; TO 6
PROVIDE THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE 7
MISSISSIPPI MILITARY DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM; TO 8
REQUIRE THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF MISSISSIPPI TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON 9
THE PROGRAM TO THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 11
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the 12
"Mississippi National Guard Servicemembers Medical Readiness Act". 13
SECTION 2. (1) There is hereby established within the 14
Mississippi Military Department the "Mississippi National Guard 15
Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program" (hereinafter referred to as 16
"program"). The Mississippi Military Department may award 17
reimbursement grants under the program to an eligible recipient 18
who meets the reimbursement application requirements established 19
by the department for (a) reimbursement of premiums paid for 20
individual coverage for an eligible recipient through the TRICARE 21
reserve select program and/or (b) reimbursement of premiums paid 22
H. B. No. 1085 *HR31/R67* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R67
PAGE 2 (BS\JAB)

for individual coverage for an eligible recipient through the 23
TRICARE dental program. If any portion of the premiums eligible 24
for reimbursement under the program is paid for, reimbursed, or 25
otherwise provided to an eligible recipient by the federal 26
government, then that portion shall cease to be eligible for 27
reimbursement under the program. 28
(b) For the purposes of this section, the term 29
"eligible recipient" means an individual who is: 30
(i) A member of the Mississippi National Guard; 31
(ii) Eligible for TRICARE reserve select coverage 32
and/or TRICARE dental program coverage; and 33
(iii) Not receiving health insurance coverage or 34
dental insurance coverage, as applicable, through a civilian 35
employer. 36
(2) The Mississippi Military Department shall have all 37
powers necessary to implement and administer the program and shall 38
promulgate rules and regulations necessary for its implementation, 39
including procedures for application, verification of eligibility, 40
disbursement of funds and tracking of program impact on readiness.41
(3) The funds for the program shall be subject to annual 42
appropriation by the Legislature. 43
(4) The Adjutant General of Mississippi shall provide an 44
annual report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the 45
program, including the number of participants, the impact on 46
H. B. No. 1085 *HR31/R67* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R67
PAGE 3 (BS\JAB)
ST: Mississippi National Guard Servicemembers
Medical Readiness Act.
medical readiness and any recommendations for improvements to the 47
program. 48
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 49
and after July 1, 2026. 50