Read the full stored bill text
H. B. No. 118 *HR31/R165* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR31/R165
PAGE 1 (RF\JAB)
To: Public Health and Human
Services; Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Johnson
HOUSE BILL NO. 118
AN ACT TO CREATE A HAZARD PAY FOR ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE 1
WORKERS GRANT PROGRAM, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT 2
OF HEALTH, TO PROVIDE $1,500 IN PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL HEALTH 3
CARE WORKERS WHO PERFORM JOBS IN PUBLIC SETTINGS THAT SUBJECT THEM 4
TO AN ELEVATED RISK OF EXPOSURE TO COVID-19; TO DEFINE CERTAIN 5
TERMS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE FOR 6
EMPLOYERS OF ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO APPLY FOR GRANT 7
FUNDS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE 8
PROGRAM TO THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE; AND FOR RELATED 9
PURPOSES. 10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 11
SECTION 1. (1) The State Department of Health shall 12
establish a Hazard Pay for Essential Health Care Workers Grant 13
Program to provide premium pay of One Thousand Five Hundred 14
Dollars ($1,500.00) to essential health care workers who perform 15
jobs in public settings that subject them to an elevated risk of 16
exposure to COVID-19. Under the program, an essential work 17
employer may apply for a grant from the department to award 18
premium pay to eligible employees using any funds available to the 19
department that are not prohibited by law from being expended for 20
such purposes. 21
H. B. No. 118 *HR31/R165* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R165
PAGE 2 (RF\JAB)
(2) As used in this act, the following words and phrases 22
have the meanings as defined in this subsection unless the context 23
clearly requires otherwise: 24
(a) "Department" means the State Department of Health. 25
(b) "Essential health care worker" means a licensed 26
social worker, clinical worker, certified nurse assistant, aide, 27
technician, janitorial staff, housekeeping staff, security guard, 28
food service worker, laundry worker, nonmanagerial administrative 29
staff or any other employee who performs work in a job or 30
environment in a public setting that subjects the employee to an 31
elevated risk of being exposed to, directly or indirectly, or 32
contracting COVID-19. 33
(c) "Essential work" means any work that: 34
(i) Is not performed while teleworking from a 35
residence; and 36
(ii) 1. Involves regular in-person interactions 37
with patients, the public or coworkers of the individual 38
performing the work; or 39
2. Involves regular physical handling of 40
items that were handled by, or are to be handled by, patients, the 41
public or coworkers of the individual performing the work. 42
(d) "Essential work employer" means an employer who 43
employs or provides remuneration for services or labor to an 44
essential health care worker. 45
H. B. No. 118 *HR31/R165* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R165
PAGE 3 (RF\JAB)
(e) "Program" means the Hazard Pay for Essential Health 46
Care Workers Grant Program. 47
(3) To qualify for premium pay, an essential health care 48
worker must have an annual income of Seventy-five Thousand Dollars 49
($75,000.00) or less and must perform essential work. 50
(4) The department shall administer the grant program and 51
review grant applications from essential work employers. As soon 52
as practicable after July 1, 2026, the department shall promulgate 53
rules and regulations establishing a process and deadlines for 54
receiving grant applications and determining whether or not the 55
requirements for approval of the application are met. 56
Applications must be reviewed, and the department must make a 57
determination that a request for a grant is eligible under the 58
program. If an essential work employer is eligible to receive 59
funds, a grant agreement must be executed not more than seven (7) 60
days after approval is granted with respect to that employer. 61
Upon execution of the agreement, the department shall allocate the 62
funding to the employer. All awards must be determined at the 63
discretion of the executive director of the department. 64
(5) Grant funds must be used prospectively; grants may not 65
be used to cover the costs associated with any payment of hazard 66
pay made to essential health care workers before July 1, 2026. 67
(6) Before October 1 of each year, the department shall 68
submit to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee an annual report 69
about the program. The report must contain, at a minimum, the 70
H. B. No. 118 *HR31/R165* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R165
PAGE 4 (RF\JAB)
ST: Essential health care workers premium pay;
Department of Health to create program using any
available funds.
applications received and the amount of grant funds awarded to 71
each applicant. 72
(7) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2028. 73
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 74
and after July 1, 2026. 75