Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1498: Therapists; prohibit from sexual relationship with patients.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 97-3-102, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A CRIME FOR A THERAPIST WHO ENGAGES IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT; TO AMEND SECTION 97-3-95, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE THE TERM "THERAPIST" IN THE PROVISION OF LAW THAT REGULATES THE CRIME OF SEXUAL BATTERY; TO AMEND SECTION 73-54-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT TO THE GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS; TO AMEND SECTION 73-53-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT TO THE GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OF SOCIAL WORKERS; TO AMEND SECTION 73-30-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT TO THE GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 73-31-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT TO THE GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OF PSYCHOLOGISTS; TO AMEND SECTION 73-25-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT TO THE GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OF PHYSICIANS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 97-3-97, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES DEFINITIONS FOR THE CRIME OF SEXUAL BATTERY; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 97-3-101, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES THE PENALTIES FOR THE CRIME OF SEXUAL BATTERY; TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL IMMUNITY FOR ANY PERSON WHO, IN GOOD FAITH, REPORTS ABUSE, NEGLECT OR COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION; TO REQUIRE ANY PERSON OR ENTITY WHO LEARNS THAT AN ADULT WAS ABUSED AS A CHILD BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERSON OR ENTITY; TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY TO SUCH PERSON FOR REPORTING; TO AMEND SECTIONS 43-21-353 AND 97-3-54.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY FOR THE REPORTER OF SEXUAL ABUSE WHICH MAY BE INCURRED AS A RESULT OF REPORTING; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 97-5-51, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR MANDATORY REPORTING, FOR PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED
What the bill says
An act to create new section 97-3-102, mississippi code of 1972, to provide a crime for a therapist who engages in sexual contact with a patient; to amend section 97-3-95, mississippi code of 1972, to include the term "therapist" in the provision of law that regulates the crime of sexual battery; to amend section 73-54-29, mississippi code of 1972, to add engaging in sexual contact with a patient to the grounds for disciplinary action of marriage and family therapists…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 97-3-102, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A CRIME FOR A THERAPIST WHO ENGAGES IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT; TO AMEND SECTION 97-3-95, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE THE TERM "THERAPIST" IN THE PROVISION OF LAW THAT REGULATES THE CRIME OF SEXUAL BATTERY; TO AMEND SECTION 73-54-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT TO THE GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS; TO AMEND SECTION 73-53-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT TO THE GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OF SOCIAL WORKERS; TO AMEND SECTION 73-30-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT TO THE GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS; TO AMEND SECTION 73-31-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT TO THE GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OF PSYCHOLOGISTS; TO AMEND SECTION 73-25-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PATIENT TO THE GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OF PHYSICIANS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 97-3-97, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES DEFINITIONS FOR THE CRIME OF SEXUAL BATTERY; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 97-3-101, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES THE PENALTIES FOR THE CRIME OF SEXUAL BATTERY; TO …
Sponsors
- Evans, Bob (D, 91) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Died In Committee
- : Referred To Judiciary B
Subjects: Therapists
Common questions
- What is HB1498?
- HB1498 is a bill in the Mississippi Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Therapists; prohibit from sexual relationship with patients.
- What does HB1498 do?
- In its own words: An act to create new section 97-3-102, mississippi code of 1972, to provide a crime for a therapist who engages in sexual contact with a patient; to amend section 97-3-95, mississippi code of 1972, to include the term "therapist" in the provision of law that regulates the crime of sexual battery; to amend section 73-54-29, mississippi code of 1972, to add engaging in sexual contact with a patient to the grounds for disciplinary action of marriage and family therapists…
- What is the status of HB1498?
- Failed as of February 3, 2026. Latest action: Died In Committee (February 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1498?
- Evans, Bob (D, 91).
- Where is the official record for HB1498?
- On the Mississippi Legislature website: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1498.xml
Source: official Mississippi record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.