Bill > HB1159

This bill aims to strengthen parental rights regarding medical treatment and human sexuality instruction for K-12 students in Mississippi by prohibiting state officials from enforcing any federal directives that would allow medical, health care, behavioral, or mental health treatments for unemancipated minors without parental notification or consent. The legislation specifically prevents state employees from enforcing federal guidelines that might bypass parental involvement, such as provisions in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The bill provides parents with the right to sue any person, corporation, or entity that violates parental notification and consent requirements, allowing them to seek damages including actual and punitive damages, court costs, and attorney fees. It also mandates that schools provide at least one week's written notice to parents before any human sexuality instruction, giving parents the right to review curriculum materials and opt their children out of such instruction without penalty. Additionally, the bill reinforces existing state law about medical consent for minors, emphasizing that parents (or guardians) have primary authority to consent to medical treatments for unemancipated minors. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the act is found unconstitutional, the remaining provisions will still stand.

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB1159.xml