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SB2559 • 2026

Mississippi Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act of 2026; enact.

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI HEALTHY MOMS, HEALTHY BABIES ACT OF 2026; TO SET FORTH LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI INFANT MORTALITY REDUCTION INITIATIVE WITHIN THE MISSISSIPPI STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO COORDINATE STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR EXPANDED ACCESS TO PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM CARE AND TO EXPAND PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO EXPAND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAMS; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education Healthcare
Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so its provisions will not be implemented as described.

Mississippi Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act

This bill aims to reduce infant mortality rates in Mississippi by establishing the Mississippi Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative within the Department of Health and expanding access to prenatal and postpartum care.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes the Mississippi Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative within the Department of Health to coordinate statewide efforts to lower infant deaths through evidence-based interventions.
  • Expands Medicaid coverage for new mothers from six months to twelve months after giving birth.
  • Provides grants to community health centers and rural hospitals to offer better prenatal care services, including help with transportation and nutritional counseling.
  • Requires healthcare providers to screen pregnant women for signs of depression and provide referrals as needed.
  • Increases public education on safe sleep practices and provides portable cribs or safe sleep surfaces to low-income families.

Who It Names or Affects

  • New mothers and their babies
  • Healthcare providers who offer prenatal and infant care
  • Community health centers and rural hospitals

Terms To Know

SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, a sudden unexplained death of a baby less than one year old.
Evidence-based interventions
Healthcare practices that are supported by scientific research and have been proven to be effective.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
  • It is unclear how much funding would be available for new programs or expansions of existing ones.
  • Details on specific safe sleep practices and home visiting program requirements are not provided in the summary.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (S) Referred To Public Health and Welfare

Official Summary Text

Mississippi Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act of 2026; enact.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2559 *SS36/R909* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS36/R909
PAGE 1 (baf\kr)

To: Public Health and
Welfare
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Mumford

SENATE BILL NO. 2559

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI HEALTHY MOMS, HEALTHY 1
BABIES ACT OF 2026; TO SET FORTH LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; TO 2
ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI INFANT MORTALITY REDUCTION INITIATIVE 3
WITHIN THE MISSISSIPPI STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO COORDINATE 4
STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY THROUGH 5
EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR EXPANDED ACCESS TO 6
PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM CARE AND TO EXPAND PUBLIC EDUCATION 7
CAMPAIGNS; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO EXPAND FUNDING 8
OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAMS; TO 9
REQUIRE CERTAIN DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING; AND FOR RELATED 10
PURPOSES. 11
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 12
SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Mississippi Healthy 13
Moms, Healthy Babies Act of 2026." 14
SECTION 2. The Legislature finds and declares that: 15
(a) Mississippi has one of the highest infant mortality 16
rates in the nation, with recent data indicating a rate of 17
approximately 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, significantly 18
higher than the national average. 19
(b) Leading causes of infant mortality in Mississippi 20
include preterm birth, low birth weight, congenital malformations 21
and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 22
S. B. No. 2559 *SS36/R909* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R909
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(c) Racial disparities are stark, with Black infants 23
experiencing mortality rates of more than twice those of White 24
infants. 25
(d) Improving maternal health, access to prenatal and 26
postpartum care, safe sleep education and community-based support 27
are evidence-based strategies proven to reduce infant mortality. 28
(e) There is an urgent need for coordinated state 29
efforts to address this public health crisis. 30
SECTION 3. As used in this act, the following terms shall 31
have the meaning ascribed herein: 32
(a) "Department" means the Mississippi State Department 33
of Health. 34
(b) "Initiative" means the Mississippi Infant Mortality 35
Reduction Initiative created in Section 4 of this act. 36
(c) "SIDS" means sudden infant death syndrome. 37
SECTION 4. (1) There is created within the Mississippi 38
State Department of Health the Mississippi Infant Mortality 39
Reduction Initiative. 40
(2) The initiative shall coordinate statewide efforts to 41
reduce infant mortality through evidence-based interventions, 42
including, but not limited to: 43
(a) Expanding access to comprehensive prenatal and 44
postpartum care; 45
(b) Promoting safe sleep practices and reducing risks 46
associated with SIDS; 47
S. B. No. 2559 *SS36/R909* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R909
PAGE 3 (baf\kr)

(c) Strengthening home visiting and care management 48
programs for at-risk families; and 49
(d) Addressing social determinants of health 50
contributing to disparities in maternal and infant outcomes. 51
SECTION 5. (1) The department, in collaboration with the 52
Division of Medicaid, shall develop and implement policies to 53
extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to twelve (12) months 54
following birth for eligible individuals. 55
(2) The department shall establish grants for community 56
health centers and rural hospitals to provide enhanced prenatal 57
care services, including transportation assistance, nutritional 58
counseling and management of chronic conditions such as 59
hypertension and diabetes. 60
(3) Health care providers delivering prenatal or infant care 61
shall be required to screen for maternal depression and provide 62
referrals as needed. 63
SECTION 6. (1) The department shall expand public education 64
campaigns on safe sleep practices, including the distribution of 65
portable cribs or safe sleep surfaces to low-income families. 66
(2) Hospitals and birthing facilities shall provide safe 67
sleep education and demonstrations to all new parents prior to 68
discharge following delivery. 69
SECTION 7. (1) The department shall expand funding 70
opportunities for evidence-based home visiting programs, such as 71
S. B. No. 2559 *SS36/R909* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R909
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ST: Mississippi Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies
Act of 2026; enact.
the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies of Mississippi program, targeting 72
high-risk pregnant individuals and families with newborns. 73
(2) Priority for such funding shall be given to areas with 74
high infant mortality rates and underserved populations, as 75
determined by the department. 76
SECTION 8. (1) The department shall enhance surveillance of 77
infant deaths, including fetal-infant mortality reviews, and 78
annually report to the Legislature on progress toward reducing the 79
infant mortality rate, with specific metrics on racial and 80
geographic disparities. 81
(2) The report shall include recommendations for further 82
action by the Legislature. 83
SECTION 9. The department may seek federal matching funds, 84
grants and partnerships to effectuate the purposes of this act. 85
SECTION 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from 86
and after July 1, 2026. 87