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SB2133 • 2026

Civil actions; increase the noneconomic damages limitation other than medical malpractice.

AN ACT TO STATE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 11-1-60, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NONECONOMIC DAMAGES LIMITATION FOR ANY CIVIL ACTION OTHER THAN AN ACTION FOR AN INJURY BASED ON MALPRACTICE OR BREACH OF STANDARD OF CARE AGAINST A PROVIDER OF HEALTH CARE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Healthcare Labor
Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status as 'Did Not Pass' means it did not become law and therefore has no effective date or further details on judicial procedures.

Increase in Non-Medical Malpractice Damages

This bill increases the limit on noneconomic damages for civil actions that are not related to medical malpractice or breach of standard care by healthcare providers.

What This Bill Does

  • Raises the cap on noneconomic damages from $500,000 to $2 million in non-medical malpractice cases.
  • Does not change the limit for medical malpractice cases which remains at $500,000.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People involved in civil lawsuits where noneconomic damages are awarded and who are not suing for medical malpractice or breach of standard care by healthcare providers.

Terms To Know

Noneconomic Damages
Subjective, non-monetary losses such as pain, suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other similar harms.
Economic Damages
Objective, verifiable monetary damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
  • It does not apply to cases involving malpractice or breach of standard care by healthcare providers.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/13 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division A

Official Summary Text

Civil actions; increase the noneconomic damages limitation other than medical malpractice.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
S. B. No. 2133 *SS36/R112* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS36/R112
PAGE 1 (ens\kr)

To: Judiciary, Division A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Blackmon

SENATE BILL NO. 2133

AN ACT TO STATE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; TO AMEND SECTION 1
11-1-60, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE NONECONOMIC 2
DAMAGES LIMITATION FOR ANY CIVIL ACTION OTHER THAN AN ACTION FOR 3
AN INJURY BASED ON MALPRACTICE OR BREACH OF STANDARD OF CARE 4
AGAINST A PROVIDER OF HEALTH CARE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature finds that the United States 7
Dollar has had an average inflation rate of two and six-tenths 8
percent (2.6%) per year between 2004 and today. 9
(2) The Legislature further finds that the average inflation 10
rate has produced a cumulative price increase of sixty-seven and 11
two one-hundredths percent (67.02%). 12
(3) The Legislature further finds that one (1) United States 13
dollar in 2004 is equivalent in purchasing power to approximately 14
One Dollar and Sixty-seven Cents ($1.67) today. 15
SECTION 2. Section 11-1-60, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 16
amended as follows: 17
S. B. No. 2133 *SS36/R112* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R112
PAGE 2 (ens\kr)

11-1-60. (1) For the purposes of this section, the 18
following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed 19
herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise: 20
(a) "Noneconomic damages" means subjective, 21
nonpecuniary damages arising from death, pain, suffering, 22
inconvenience, mental anguish, worry, emotional distress, loss of 23
society and companionship, loss of consortium, bystander injury, 24
physical impairment, disfigurement, injury to reputation, 25
humiliation, embarrassment, loss of the enjoyment of life, hedonic 26
damages, other nonpecuniary damages, and any other theory of 27
damages such as fear of loss, illness or injury. The term 28
"noneconomic damages" shall not include punitive or exemplary 29
damages. 30
(b) "Actual economic damages" means objectively 31
verifiable pecuniary damages arising from medical expenses and 32
medical care, rehabilitation services, custodial care, 33
disabilities, loss of earnings and earning capacity, loss of 34
income, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or 35
replacement of property, costs of obtaining substitute domestic 36
services, loss of employment, loss of business or employment 37
opportunities, and other objectively verifiable monetary losses. 38
(2) (a) In any cause of action filed on or after September 39
1, 2004, for injury based on malpractice or breach of standard of 40
care against a provider of health care, including institutions for 41
the aged or infirm, in the event the trier of fact finds the 42
S. B. No. 2133 *SS36/R112* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R112
PAGE 3 (ens\kr)
ST: Civil actions; increase the noneconomic
damages limitation other than medical
malpractice.
defendant liable, they shall not award the plaintiff more than 43
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) for noneconomic 44
damages. 45
(b) In any civil action filed on or after September 1, 46
2004, other than those actions described in paragraph (a) of this 47
subsection, in the event the trier of fact finds the defendant 48
liable, they shall not award the plaintiff more than * * * Two 49
Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) for noneconomic damages. 50
It is the intent of this section to limit all noneconomic 51
damages to the above. 52
(c) The trier of fact shall not be advised of the 53
limitations imposed by this subsection (2) and the judge shall 54
appropriately reduce any award of noneconomic damages that exceeds 55
the applicable limitation. 56
(3) Nothing contained in subsection (1) of this section 57
shall be construed as creating a cause of action or as setting 58
forth elements of or types of damages that are or are not 59
recoverable in any type of cause of action. 60
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 61
and after July 1, 2026. 62