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HB1116 • 2026

Noneconomic damages; revise to include an annual inflationary rate.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 11-1-60, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE NONECONOMIC DAMAGES TO BE CALCULATED AT A COMPOUNDED RATE OF EIGHT PERCENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Healthcare
Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Tullos
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass in its session and has no legal effect as of now.

Amending Law on Noneconomic Damages

This bill proposes to amend the law to require noneconomic damages to be calculated at a compounded rate of eight percent starting from July 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law to require noneconomic damages to be adjusted for inflation at a compounded rate of eight percent each year starting from July 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Individuals involved in civil actions seeking noneconomic damages after September 1, 2004.
  • People who file lawsuits for malpractice or breach of standard care against healthcare providers.

Terms To Know

Noneconomic Damages
Damages that are not easily measured, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of companionship.
Compounded Interest Rate
An interest rate where the interest earned is added to the principal amount each year, increasing the total amount over time.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and therefore has no legal effect.
  • It does not specify how the inflation adjustment will be applied before July 1, 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To Judiciary A

Official Summary Text

Noneconomic damages; revise to include an annual inflationary rate.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
H. B. No. 1116 *HR26/R670* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R670
PAGE 1 (GT\KW)

To: Judiciary A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Tullos

HOUSE BILL NO. 1116

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 11-1-60, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
REQUIRE NONECONOMIC DAMAGES TO BE CALCULATED AT A COMPOUNDED RATE 2
OF EIGHT PERCENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 4
SECTION 1. Section 11-1-60, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 5
amended as follows: 6
11-1-60. (1) For the purposes of this section, the 7
following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed 8
herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise: 9
(a) "Noneconomic damages" means subjective, 10
nonpecuniary damages arising from death, pain, suffering, 11
inconvenience, mental anguish, worry, emotional distress, loss of 12
society and companionship, loss of consortium, bystander injury, 13
physical impairment, disfigurement, injury to reputation, 14
humiliation, embarrassment, loss of the enjoyment of life, hedonic 15
damages, other nonpecuniary damages, and any other theory of 16
damages such as fear of loss, illness or injury. The term 17
H. B. No. 1116 *HR26/R670* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R670
PAGE 2 (GT\KW)

"noneconomic damages" shall not include punitive or exemplary 18
damages. 19
(b) "Actual economic damages" means objectively 20
verifiable pecuniary damages arising from medical expenses and 21
medical care, rehabilitation services, custodial care, 22
disabilities, loss of earnings and earning capacity, loss of 23
income, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or 24
replacement of property, costs of obtaining substitute domestic 25
services, loss of employment, loss of business or employment 26
opportunities, and other objectively verifiable monetary losses. 27
(2) (a) In any cause of action filed on or after September 28
1, 2004, for injury based on malpractice or breach of standard of 29
care against a provider of health care, including institutions for 30
the aged or infirm, in the event the trier of fact finds the 31
defendant liable, they shall not award the plaintiff more than 32
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) for noneconomic 33
damages. 34
(b) In any civil action filed on or after September 1, 35
2004, other than those actions described in paragraph (a) of this 36
subsection, in the event the trier of fact finds the defendant 37
liable, they shall not award the plaintiff more than One Million 38
Dollars ($1,000,000.00) for noneconomic damages. 39
* * * 40
(c) The trier of fact shall not be advised of the 41
limitations imposed by this subsection (2) and the judge shall 42
H. B. No. 1116 *HR26/R670* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R670
PAGE 3 (GT\KW)
ST: Noneconomic damages; revise to include an
annual inflationary rate.
appropriately reduce any award of noneconomic damages that exceeds 43
the applicable limitation. 44
(d) From and after July 1, 2025, the amounts of the 45
awards for noneconomic damages listed in paragraphs (a) and (b) 46
shall be appropriately calculated at an eight percent (8%) 47
compounded interest rate for each year from and after July 1, 48
2026. 49
(3) Nothing contained in subsection (1) of this section 50
shall be construed as creating a cause of action or as setting 51
forth elements of or types of damages that are or are not 52
recoverable in any type of cause of action. 53
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 54
and after July 1, 2026. 55