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To: Public Health and Human
Services; Accountability,
Efficiency, Transparency
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Crawford
HOUSE BILL NO. 1181
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO COMMENCE AN 1
INVESTIGATION INTO THE ACTIVITIES OF PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES IN 2
MISSISSIPPI RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTION AND 3
DISTRIBUTION OF VACCINES PURPORTED TO PREVENT COVID-19 INFECTION, 4
SYMPTOMS AND TRANSMISSION; TO DECLARE CERTAIN FINDINGS; TO SPECIFY 5
CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSES THAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF 6
THE INVESTIGATION; TO REQUIRE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SUBMIT A 7
STATUS REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE JANUARY 1 OF EACH YEAR 8
THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING, WHICH REPORT MAY NOT INCLUDE 9
INFORMATION THAT IS CONFIDENTIAL OR POTENTIALLY THREATENING TO THE 10
INTEGRITY OF THE INVESTIGATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 11
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 12
SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature finds the following: 13
(a) The general welfare and well-being of citizens of 14
this state depend in large measure upon the truth of 15
advertisements, representations and suggestions publicly made by 16
an industry selling or otherwise profiting from the distribution 17
of a product in the state. 18
(b) Particularly important to the health of the state's 19
citizenry is the necessity of being able to accept as truthful and 20
scientifically supported information disseminated by 21
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pharmaceutical manufacturers relating to the effectiveness of a 22
drug. 23
(c) Questions now exist regarding the veracity of 24
representations made by the pharmaceutical manufacturers of 25
COVID-19 vaccines, particularly with respect to transmission, 26
prevention, efficacy and safety. 27
(d) In many instances, Mississippians were required to 28
either take a COVID-19 vaccine or be terminated from their 29
employment when the federal government, in reliance upon 30
representations made by the pharmaceutical industry, mandated 31
certain employers require employees to be vaccinated against 32
COVID-19 as a condition of employment. 33
(2) The Legislature declares that, if found to be true, the 34
alleged wrongful actions of pharmaceutical manufacturers in 35
Mississippi relating to the development, promotion and 36
distribution of vaccines purported to prevent COVID-19 infection, 37
symptoms and transmission are criminal in nature and particularly 38
egregious to the citizens of this state and the state as a whole, 39
and as such, an extensive investigation by the state into the 40
practices of the pharmaceutical industry relating to the COVID-19 41
vaccine is fully warranted. 42
(3) The Attorney General shall commence an investigation 43
into activities in Mississippi relating to the development, 44
promotion and distribution of vaccines purported to prevent 45
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COVID-19 infection, symptoms and transmission. The investigation 46
must consider any crime or wrong that relates to the following: 47
(a) Persons and entities, including, but not limited 48
to, pharmaceutical manufacturers and their executive officers, and 49
other medical associations or organizations involved in the 50
design, development, clinical testing or investigation, 51
manufacture, marketing, representation, advertising, promotion, 52
labeling, distribution, formulation, packing, sale, purchase, 53
donation, dispensing, prescribing, administration or use of 54
vaccines purported to prevent COVID-19 infection, symptoms and 55
transmission; and 56
(b) Any other criminal activity or wrongdoing that is 57
uncovered during the course of the investigation if the Attorney 58
General determines that pursuing the criminal activity or 59
wrongdoing is in the best interests of the investigation. 60
(4) Specifically, the scope of the investigation must be 61
aimed to determine if a violation of any of the following offenses 62
has occurred: 63
(a) Offenses affecting trade, business and professions 64
(Chapter 23, Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972), and 65
particularly, Section 97-23-3, which prohibits untrue, deceptive 66
or misleading advertising; 67
(b) Offenses involving false pretenses and cheats 68
(Chapter 19, Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972), and 69
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ST: COVID-19 vaccines; require Attorney General
to investigate pharmaceutical companies'
promotion and distribution of.
particularly, Section 97-19-83, which prohibits fraud by mail or 70
other means of communication; 71
(c) Offenses under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt 72
Organization Act (RICO) (Chapter 43, Title 97, Mississippi Code of 73
1972); 74
(d) Offenses of conspiracy, accessories and attempts 75
(Chapter 1, Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972); and 76
(e) Any other offense determined through the course of 77
the investigation by the Attorney General to have allegedly 78
occurred. 79
(5) In carrying out this investigation, the Attorney General 80
shall exercise all subpoena powers and enforcement provisions 81
expressly enumerated for conducting investigations under Section 82
7-5-59. 83
(6) Before January 1, 2027, and each succeeding year so long 84
as the investigation continues, the Attorney General shall submit 85
a report to the Legislature providing an update on the status of 86
the investigation. However, any information deemed confidential 87
or the release of which potentially would jeopardize the integrity 88
of the investigation may not be included in the report. 89
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 90
and after July 1, 2026. 91