Bill > HB120

This bill aims to significantly restrict healthcare providers' ability to treat unemancipated minors without parental consent by requiring healthcare institutions to obtain explicit permission from a parent, guardian, or designated adult before providing medical treatment. The bill mandates that at each minor patient's visit, providers must present a written document to parents or guardians allowing them to specify which individuals can consent to their child's medical treatment, with only limited exceptions such as medical emergencies, cases involving suspected child abuse, situations with children in Child Protection Services custody, and specific medical scenarios like infectious disease testing or blood donations. The legislation also repeals previous provisions that allowed physicians to treat minors without parental consent for conditions like sexually transmitted diseases or mental health issues related to alcohol or drugs. Parents are empowered to sue healthcare providers who violate these new restrictions and can seek various forms of legal relief, including damages and attorneys' fees. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving healthcare providers and institutions time to adapt to the new requirements. Notably, the bill maintains existing provisions that allow females of any age to consent to pregnancy and childbirth-related medical care.

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0120.xml