l9n/ Mississippi

2026 Regular Session

House Bill 424

Mental health; authorize assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) as alternative to impatient commitment for certain persons.

Did not become law. It stopped in the Senate's Public Health and Welfare Committee on March 3, 2026.

What it does

The synopsis the Legislature published with the bill.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-21-74, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT (AOT) AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INPATIENT COMMITMENT FOR PERSONS WHO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA; TO SPECIFY WHO MAY INITIATE AN AOT ORDER; TO REQUIRE THE COURT TO MAKE CERTAIN FINDINGS BEFORE ENTERING AN AOT ORDER; TO REQUIRE THE SUBMISSION AND UPDATING OF A TREATMENT PLAN AFTER ENTRY OF AN AOT ORDER; TO PROVIDE THAT THE RESPONDENT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY AT ALL STAGES OF ANY PROCEEDING INVOLVING AOT; TO SPECIFY THE INITIAL LENGTH OF AN AOT ORDER AND AUTHORIZE RENEWALS OF THE ORDER; TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN PERSONS TO FILE AN AFFIDAVIT OF NONCOMPLIANCE WITH A TREATMENT PLAN; TO REQUIRE SCREENING BEFORE SUCH AN AFFIDAVIT IS FILED; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COUNTY OF RESIDENCE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNITY COORDINATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND FOLLOW-UP SERVICES; TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCREENING BEFORE RETURNING THE RESPONDENT TO A STATE HOSPITAL FOR NONCOMPLIANCE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHANCERY COURT OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE PUBLIC FACILITY IS LOCATED OR THE COMMITTING COURT SHALL HAVE JURISDICTION OVER MATTERS RELATING TO AOT ORDERS; 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

Omeria Scott

Its course

January 12 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 action9 actions on 7 days

In the House of RepresentativesJan 12 to Feb 1029 days

Public Health and Human ServicesJan 12 to Jan 2210 days

Judiciary AJan 22 to Jan 297 days

Public Health and Human ServicesJan 29 to Jan 290 days

In the SenateFeb 10 to Mar 3 · stopped21 days

Public Health and WelfareFeb 18 to Mar 3 · stopped13 days

Amendments

Each amendment offered, and what became of it.

  • House of Representatives floor amendmentAdopted

    Adopted Feb 10

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 12 – Feb 10

  1. Jan 12Referred to the House committees on Public Health and Human Services and on Judiciary A
  2. Jan 22Reported from PH to JA in the House: title sufficient, do pass
  3. Jan 29Reported from JA to PH in the House: title sufficient, do pass
  4. Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass
  5. Feb 10Amended in the House
  6. Passed the House as amended

In the Senate Feb 12 – Mar 3

  1. Feb 12Sent to the Senate
  2. Feb 18Referred to the Senate committees on Public Health and Welfare and on Judiciary, Division A
  3. Mar 3Died in committee in the Senate
All 9 actions, as published
  1. Jan 12Referred To Public Health and Human Services;Judiciary AHouse of Representatives
  2. Jan 22DR - TSDP: PH To JAHouse of Representatives
  3. Jan 29DR - TSDP: JA To PHHouse of Representatives
  4. Jan 29Title Suff Do PassHouse of Representatives
  5. Feb 10AmendedHouse of Representatives
  6. Feb 10Passed As AmendedHouse of Representatives
  7. Feb 12Transmitted To SenateHouse of Representatives
  8. Feb 18Referred To Public Health and Welfare;Judiciary, Division ASenate
  9. Mar 3Died In CommitteeSenate