Bill > HB148

This bill, known as the Safeguarding Teens from Out-of-State (STOP) Procedures Act, creates a strict legal framework to prevent minors from obtaining abortions without parental consent and to criminalize actions that help a minor seek an abortion outside of parental knowledge. Under the bill, anyone who assists a minor girl (defined as a female under 18 who is not emancipated) in procuring an abortion or obtaining abortion-inducing drugs with the intent to conceal the procedure from her parents can be charged with a felony, facing 20 years to life in prison and/or a fine between $50,000 and $500,000. The bill defines "assistance" broadly as providing lodging, transportation, shelter, or money to help a minor obtain an abortion without parental involvement. Importantly, the law explicitly states that the minor herself cannot be criminally prosecuted, and it does not create a new right to abortion. The legislation is rooted in legislative findings that emphasize parental rights, the potential psychological consequences of abortion for young people, and the existing Mississippi law requiring parental consent for minor abortions. The bill also specifies that it does not matter if the abortion occurs in another state, and it allows for civil actions and legislative intervention if the law's constitutionality is challenged.

Justice

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0148.xml