HB143 • 2026

Birthing centers; delete requirement to have written transfer agreement with a hospital in order to be licensed.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-77-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT FOR BIRTHING CENTERS TO OBTAIN A WRITTEN TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH A HOSPITAL THAT HAS AN ORGANIZED OBSTETRICAL SERVICE AND PROVIDES SUCH SERVICE ON A CONTINUING BASIS, STATING THAT THE HOSPITAL AGREES TO ACCEPT FROM THE BIRTHING CENTER SUCH CASES AS MAY NEED TO BE REFERRED FROM THE BIRTHING CENTER; TO REQUIRE LICENSED BIRTHING CENTERS TO ESTABLISH A WRITTEN TRANSFER PLAN THAT INVOLVES APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF CARE WHEN CLIENT CONDITIONS REQUIRE IT, AND TO PERIODICALLY PROVIDE A LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF ITS OPERATIONS AND PATIENT POPULATION SERVED; TO PROVIDE THAT IN ORDER TO BE LICENSED, A BIRTHING CENTER MUST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF BIRTH CENTERS'S (AABC) STANDARDS FOR BIRTH CENTERS, INCLUDING ESTABLISHING A WRITTEN TRANSFER PLAN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Healthcare

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on how many birthing centers will be affected by these changes if the bill were to become law.

Birthing Centers; Change Licensing Requirements

This bill changes the licensing requirements for birthing centers by removing the need to have a written transfer agreement with a hospital and instead requiring them to establish a written transfer plan.

What This Bill Does

Removes the requirement that birthing centers must have a written agreement with a local hospital to be licensed.
Requires birthing centers to create a detailed strategy for moving patients from a birthing center to another healthcare facility when necessary.
Requires birthing centers to regularly inform nearby hospitals about their operations and patient types.
Specifies that birthing centers must follow the American Association of Birth Centers' standards, including having a transfer plan.

Who It Names or Affects

Birthing centers in Mississippi
Local hospitals near birthing centers

Terms To Know

Transfer agreement: A written contract between a birthing center and a hospital that outlines how patients will be transferred if needed.
Transfer plan: A detailed strategy for moving patients from a birthing center to another healthcare facility when necessary.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and therefore has no legal effect.
It is unclear how many birthing centers will be affected by these changes if the bill were to become law.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-07 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/07 (H) Referred To Public Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Birthing centers; delete requirement to have written transfer agreement with a hospital in order to be licensed.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 143 *HR43/R655* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R655
PAGE 1 (RF\KP)

To: Public Health and Human
Services
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Hines

HOUSE BILL NO. 143

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-77-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
DELETE THE REQUIREMENT FOR BIRTHING CENTERS TO OBTAIN A WRITTEN 2
TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH A HOSPITAL THAT HAS AN ORGANIZED 3
OBSTETRICAL SERVICE AND PROVIDES SUCH SERVICE ON A CONTINUING 4
BASIS, STATING THAT THE HOSPITAL AGREES TO ACCEPT FROM THE 5
BIRTHING CENTER SUCH CASES AS MAY NEED TO BE REFERRED FROM THE 6
BIRTHING CENTER; TO REQUIRE LICENSED BIRTHING CENTERS TO ESTABLISH 7
A WRITTEN TRANSFER PLAN THAT INVOLVES APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF CARE 8
WHEN CLIENT CONDITIONS REQUIRE IT, AND TO PERIODICALLY PROVIDE A 9
LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF ITS OPERATIONS AND PATIENT 10
POPULATION SERVED; TO PROVIDE THAT IN ORDER TO BE LICENSED, A 11
BIRTHING CENTER MUST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICAN 12
ASSOCIATION OF BIRTH CENTERS'S (AABC) STANDARDS FOR BIRTH CENTERS, 13
INCLUDING ESTABLISHING A WRITTEN TRANSFER PLAN; AND FOR RELATED 14
PURPOSES. 15
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 16
SECTION 1. Section 41-77-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 17
amended as follows: 18
41-77-7. * * * (1) A licensed birthing center shall 19
establish a written transfer plan that involves appropriate levels 20
of care when client conditions require it, and must periodically 21
provide a local hospital with written notice of its operations and 22
patient population served. 23
H. B. No. 143 *HR43/R655* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R655
PAGE 2 (RF\KP)
ST: Birthing centers; delete requirement to
have written transfer agreement with a hospital
in order to be licensed.
(2) (a) In order to be licensed by the licensing agency, a 24
birthing center must be in compliance with the American 25
Association of Birth Centers's (AABC) Standards for Birth Centers, 26
including establishing a written transfer plan. 27
(b) Birth center management is required to complete 28
AABC's training, "Birth Center Transfer and Transport - Optimal 29
Practice for Safe and Satisfying Transitions of Care," and take 30
the following steps to develop a timely transfer plan: 31
(i) Coordination and collaboration with emergency 32
medical services (EMS); 33
(ii) Birth center and EMS planning meeting; and 34
(iii) EMS drill planning and debriefing. 35
The nurse midwife must accompany the patient during the EMS 36
transfer and provide critical oral and written information to the 37
hospital ER team. 38
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 39
and after July 1, 2026. 40