Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1252: Licensing boards; prohibit from disciplinary or threatening discipline of health care providers for exercising free speech rights.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 73-49-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE LICENSING BOARDS OR AGENCIES OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS FROM REPRIMANDING, SANCTIONING, REVOKING OR THREATENING TO REVOKE A LICENSE, CERTIFICATE OR REGISTRATION OF A PRACTITIONER FOR EXERCISING HIS OR HER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH, UNLESS THE BOARD OR AGENCY PROVES BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT THE SPEECH USED BY THE PRACTITIONER LED TO THE DIRECT PHYSICAL HARM OF A PERSON WITH WHOM THE PRACTITIONER HAD A PRACTITIONER-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP; TO REQUIRE THE LICENSING BOARDS OR AGENCIES OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO PROVIDE A PRACTITIONER WITH ANY COMPLAINTS RECEIVED FOR WHICH REVOCATION ACTIONS MAY BE IN ORDER WITHIN SEVEN DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF SUCH COMPLAINT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 73-6-19, 73-9-61, 73-15-29, 73-19-23, 73-21-97, 73-23-59, 73-25-29, 73-26-5, 73-27-13, 73-31-21, 73-39-77, 73-71-33 AND 73-75-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to create new section 73-49-5, mississippi code of 1972, to prohibit the licensing boards or agencies of health care practitioners from reprimanding, sanctioning, revoking or threatening to revoke a license, certificate or registration of a practitioner for exercising his or her constitutional right of free speech, unless the board or agency proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the speech used by the practitioner led to the direct physical harm of a person with whom the practitioner had a practitioner-patient relationship…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 73-49-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE LICENSING BOARDS OR AGENCIES OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS FROM REPRIMANDING, SANCTIONING, REVOKING OR THREATENING TO REVOKE A LICENSE, CERTIFICATE OR REGISTRATION OF A PRACTITIONER FOR EXERCISING HIS OR HER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH, UNLESS THE BOARD OR AGENCY PROVES BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT THE SPEECH USED BY THE PRACTITIONER LED TO THE DIRECT PHYSICAL HARM OF A PERSON WITH WHOM THE PRACTITIONER HAD A PRACTITIONER-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP; TO REQUIRE THE LICENSING BOARDS OR AGENCIES OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO PROVIDE A PRACTITIONER WITH ANY COMPLAINTS RECEIVED FOR WHICH REVOCATION ACTIONS MAY BE IN ORDER WITHIN SEVEN DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF SUCH COMPLAINT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 73-6-19, 73-9-61, 73-15-29, 73-19-23, 73-21-97, 73-23-59, 73-25-29, 73-26-5, 73-27-13, 73-31-21, 73-39-77, 73-71-33 AND 73-75-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 73-49-5, Mississippi Code of 1972: 73-49-5. (1) As used in this section, the following terms shall be defined as provided in this subsection: (a) "Health care" means any care, treatment, service, or procedure to maintain, diagnose, or otherwise affect an individual's physical or mental condition. *HR43/R1044* H. B. No. 1252 ~ OFFICIAL …