These are bills related to mental health, disabilities and children that Families as Allies is tracking. The list sorts bills according to their content areas: mental health, education, child welfare, special health care needs, disability rights and transparency/access to information. If we included a bill on the list that indicates the bill is related to the issue listed. It does not imply that we agree with or endorse it.
The Governor signed three bills on the list into law this past week:
- House Bill 20: Enacts “Cole’s Law” to prohibit discrimination against recipients of an anatomical gift or organ transplant based on disability.
- House Bill 732: Provides legislative intent regarding compliance with the national suicide hotline designation act of 2020 to assure that all Mississippians receive a consistent level of 9-8-8 and crisis behavioral health services no matter where they live, work or travel in the state.
- House Bill 927: Amends current law to revise the conditions tested for in the comprehensive newborn screening program to include those conditions listed on the recommended uniform screening panel (RUSP).
We appreciate the families who worked tirelessly on Cole’s Law. You showed the power of families working together to make things better for our children and inspired all of us. We are also grateful to Representative Kevin Felsher for introducing HB 732 and all State Senators and Representatives who unanimously voted for it.
The remaining bills on our list appear to be going to conference because the House and Senate cannot agree on what should be in them. Lt. Governor Hosemann will appoint three senators, and Speaker Gunn will appoint three representatives to craft a bill that is acceptable to both sides. Rule 23A in the Joint Rules of the Senate and House states that conference committee meetings are open to the public.
The disagreement between the House and the Senate over versions of bills appears to be related to a more general issue of disagreement over competing tax cut proposals in each chamber.
