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HB1221 • 2026

The MS Jenna's Law Task Force; create.

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI JENNA'S LAW TASK FORCE; TO REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON AUTOPSIES RELATED TO SEIZURES OR EPILEPSY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE TIMELINES FOR THE TASK FORCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Hood, Scott
Last action
2026-03-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not explicitly state that people with epilepsy or seizures are directly affected by this bill.

Mississippi Jenna's Law Task Force

This bill creates a task force to study the inclusion of information on autopsies related to seizures or epilepsy and make recommendations about reporting SUDEP deaths.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Mississippi Jenna's Law Task Force.
  • Requires the task force to study how coroners list Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy Patients (SUDEP) as a cause of death.
  • Examines the feasibility of requiring coroners to report SUDEP deaths to the National SUDEP Registry.
  • Sets up rules for who is on the task force and when they must meet.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Coroners in Mississippi
  • The Mississippi Department of Health

Terms To Know

SUDEP
Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy Patients, which is a cause of death that can happen to people who have epilepsy.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee.
  • It does not specify how much money will be given for the task force's work.

Bill History

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

    03/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-02-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/16 (S) Referred To Public Health and Welfare

  3. 2026-02-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/13 (H) Transmitted To Senate

  4. 2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/11 (H) Passed As Amended

  5. 2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/11 (H) Amended

  6. 2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/11 (H) Committee Substitute Adopted

  7. 2026-02-02 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/02 (H) Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

  8. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To Judiciary A

Official Summary Text

The MS Jenna's Law Task Force; create.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1221 *HR26/R1578PH* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R1578PH
PAGE 1 (GT\KW)

To: Judiciary A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Hood, Scott

HOUSE BILL NO. 1221
(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI JENNA'S LAW TASK FORCE; TO 1
REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON 2
AUTOPSIES RELATED TO SEIZURES OR EPILEPSY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE 3
MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE TIMELINES FOR THE TASK 4
FORCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Jenna's Law 7
Task Force to review and make recommendations regarding the need 8
for coroners to list Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy Patients 9
(SUDEP) as a cause of death, and to study the feasibility of 10
requiring coroners to report any such deaths to the National SUDEP 11
Registry. 12
(2) The task force shall be composed of the following 13
members: 14
(a) The Mississippi State Medical Examiner, or his or 15
her designee; 16
(b) The President of the Mississippi Coroners & Medical 17
Examiner Association, or his or her designee; 18
H. B. No. 1221 *HR26/R1578PH* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1578PH
PAGE 2 (GT\KW)

(c) President of the Mississippi Sheriffs' Association, 19
or his or her designee; 20
(d) Chair of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi 21
Epilepsy Foundation, or his or her designee; 22
(e) State Health Office of the Mississippi Department 23
of Health, or his or her designee; 24
(3) The duties of the task force shall include the 25
following: 26
(a) Study the existence of Sudden Unexpected Death in 27
Epilepsy Patients (SUDEP) as a cause of death; 28
(b) Examine the incidence or SUDEP as a cause of death; 29
(c) Compare the number of deaths in this state and 30
those listed on the National SUDEP Registry; 31
(d) Provide recommendations to the Legislature 32
regarding any duties of coroners to report such deaths; and 33
(4) (a) Appointments to the task force shall be made 34
within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. 35
Within fifteen (15) days thereafter on a day to be designated 36
jointly by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 37
Lieutenant Governor, the task force shall meet and organize by 38
selecting from its membership a chair and a vice chair. The vice 39
chair shall also serve as secretary and shall be responsible for 40
keeping all records of the task force. A majority of the members 41
of the task force shall constitute a quorum. In the selection of 42
its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, 43
H. B. No. 1221 *HR26/R1578PH* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1578PH
PAGE 3 (GT\KW)
ST: The MS Jenna's Law Task Force; create.
an affirmative vote of a majority of the task force shall be 44
required. All members shall be notified in writing of all 45
meetings, and those notices shall be mailed at least fifteen (15) 46
days before the date on which a meeting is to be held. 47
(b) The task force shall meet at least once each month 48
and provide monthly reports to the Legislature on its activities. 49
(c) The task force shall make a final report of its 50
findings and recommendations, including any recommended 51
legislation, to the Legislature not later than December 1, 2027, 52
at which time the task force will be dissolved. 53
(5) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation 54
for their service on the task force, but may receive reimbursement 55
for mileage and actual expenses as provided in Section 25-3-41, to 56
the extent that funds are available for that purpose. 57
(6) The Mississippi Department of Health shall provide the 58
staff and other support necessary for the task force to perform 59
its duties. 60
(7) To effectuate the purposes of this act, any department, 61
division, board, bureau, committee, institution or agency of the 62
state, or any political subdivision thereof, shall, at the request 63
of the chairman of the task force, provide the facilities, 64
assistance, information and data needed to enable the task force 65
to carry out its duties. 66
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 67
and after its passage. 68