Did not become law. It stopped in the House of Representatives's Public Health and Human Services Committee on February 3, 2026.
2026 Regular Session
House Bill 1568
Therapists; create a felony for those who have sexual contact with patients.
What it does
The synopsis the Legislature published with the bill.
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 PURPOSES.
Sponsors
Who carried the bill in each chamber, and who signed on. Each name leads to the member's page.
In the House of Representatives
Sponsor
Its course
January 19 to February 3, 2026, on one scale. In the top row each mark is a day something happened; taller marks are busier days.
Each committee stop sits inside its chamber.
Every action2 actions on 2 days
In the House of RepresentativesJan 19 to Feb 3 · stopped15 days
Public Health and Human ServicesJan 19 to Feb 3 · stopped15 days
Text
Each version as the Legislature printed it.
l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.
What happened
In l9n's words, one line for each step. Every action as the Legislature published it is below.
In the House of Representatives Jan 19 – Feb 3
- Jan 19Referred to the House committee on Public Health and Human Services
- Feb 3Died in committee in the House
All 2 actions, as published
- Jan 19Referred To Public Health and Human ServicesHouse of Representatives
- Feb 3Died In CommitteeHouse of Representatives