l9n/ Mississippi

2026 Regular Session

House Bill 1616

Baby Safety Device; remove "intent" and revise termination of parental rights.

Did not become law. It stopped in the Senate's Judiciary, Division A Committee on March 3, 2026.

What it does

The synopsis the Legislature published with the bill.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-15-201, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE INTENT AS AN ELEMENT FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS WHEN A CHILD IS LEFT IN A BABY SAFETY DEVICE; TO AMEND SECTION 43-15-203, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE A SHELTER HEARING WHEN THE DEPARTMENT HAS CONTROL OF A BABY THAT HAS BEEN DROPPED OFF; TO AMEND SECTIONS 43-15-205, 43-21-551, 43-21-603 AND 43-21-451, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING SECTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 93-15-109, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD "SURRENDER TO A BABY SAFETY DEVICE" TO THE LIST OF WAYS TO SURRENDER A CHILD TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES; 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

1 co-sponsor

Jeff Hale

Its course

January 19 to March 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 action7 actions on 6 days

In the House of RepresentativesJan 19 to Feb 1123 days

Judiciary AJan 19 to Feb 315 days

In the SenateFeb 11 to Mar 3 · stopped20 days

Judiciary, Division AFeb 19 to Mar 3 · stopped12 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 11

  1. Jan 19Referred to the House committee on Judiciary A
  2. Feb 3Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
  3. Feb 11Committee substitute adopted in the House
  4. Passed the House

In the Senate Feb 12 – Mar 3

  1. Feb 12Sent to the Senate
  2. Feb 19Referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary, Division A
  3. Mar 3Died in committee in the Senate
All 7 actions, as published
  1. Jan 19Referred To Judiciary AHouse of Representatives
  2. Feb 3Title Suff Do Pass Comm SubHouse of Representatives
  3. Feb 11Committee Substitute AdoptedHouse of Representatives
  4. Feb 11PassedHouse of Representatives
  5. Feb 12Transmitted To SenateHouse of Representatives
  6. Feb 19Referred To Judiciary, Division ASenate
  7. Mar 3Died In CommitteeSenate