Mississippi

Overview of Mississippi law, statistics, legislation, and news stories related to Safe Haven Baby Boxes.

Law

• HB 1318 (not yet incorporated into online Mississippi code)

Legislation

2023

• HB1318— Authorizes installation of baby boxes; amends state law to provide that any church licensed with the DCPS to receive children under law to be considered an emergency service provider. Increases time frame from 72 hour to 90 days. Amended back to 45 days. Passed. Effective Date: April 19, 2023
• SB 2377 and SB 2386–. Very similar. Clarifies language in state’s Sae Haven law; increases timeframe from 72 hours to 60 days. Both died in committee.

Hearings/Testimony/Letters

• None to date.

News &Commentary

2024

• Simpson General Hospital Blesses Mississippi’s 2nd Baby Box, Magee News, January 23, 2024
• Meet the women behind Mississippi’s Safe Haven Baby Box, WAPT-TV, February 7, 2024
• Gulfport taking steps towards installation of Safe Haven Baby Box, WLOX-TV, February 20, 2024
• Picayune City Council Meeting Highlights, Picayune Item, February 22,2024
• ‘This is not a pro-life, pro-choice issue’: Safe haven baby boxes for surrendered babies. Mississippi Clarion-Ledger, March 10, 2024
• City of Gulfport seeks to add Mississippi’s fourth Safe Haven Baby Box, Pregnancy Help News, March 19, 2024
• Tupelo group raises funds for “baby box.” Tupelo Joural, April 20, 2024
• Press Release: Covington County Opens Safe Haven Baby Box, Covington County Hospital, April 29, . 2024
• Safe Haven Baby Box blessing hosted at Covington Co Hospital, WDAM-TV, May 7, 2024
• Tupelo to install “baby box at Fire Station No 3,Tupelo Daily Journal, May 7, 2024
• Caitlin Kelly The Gulf Coast Mom, June 14, 2024
• Rarely used “Baby Boxes” are expanding on the MS Coast. Do parents know they exist? Biloxi Sun-Herald, July 1, 2024
• Booneville to Install Safe Haven Baby Box at City Fire Station, Tippah News, July 19, 2024
• Safe Haven box to surrender infants planned for fire station, Columbus Dispatch, July 20, 2024
• Report: Mississippi ranks worst in overall women health care, Mississippi Clarion Ledger, July 22, 2024 (related content)
• Group of local women fundraising to bring Safe Haven Baby Box to Hub City, WDAM-TV, August 13,2024
• Safe Haven Baby Box Now Available at Memorial, Memorial Hospital Gulfport, August 19, 2024
• Columbus fire chief explains how safe haven works for infants, WCBI-TV, October 1, 2024
• Waveland hosts “Safe Haven Baby Box Blessing,” Seacoast Echo, November 19, 2024
• New baby box location slated for Paragould, Jonesboro Sun, December 12, 2-024

2023

• House Committee passes Bill 1318 which could help prevent newborn deaths, WXXV-TV, January 31, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby B ox hits legal snag, but Long Beach officials not concerned, WLBT-TV, February 23, 2023
• Mississippi women considering safely abandoning their babies need anonymity. Magnolia Tribune, March 17, 2023
• Safe Haven Lawas Could Allow Mothers Up to 30 Days to Relinquish Custody, Magnolia Tribune, March 23, 2023
• Long Beach to become first city in state to install Safe Haven Baby Box following document signing. WLOX-TV. March 24, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box advocates hoping to bring boxes across Mississippi. WLOX-TV, March 27, 2023
• Mississippi governor touts “culture of life” with new laws, Associated Press, April 19, 2023
• Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves Signs 8 Pro-Life Bills to Support Adoption, Foster Care, and Pregnant Moms, Life News, April 19, 2023
• Hattiesburg Foster Advocates Promote Education Resources, Baby Boxes, Mississippi Free Press, June 9, 2023
• First Safe Haven Baby Box in Mississippi arrives in Long Beach, WXVV-TV, July 11, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box to come to Hattiesburg WDAM-TV, August 22,2023
• Long Beach officially opens first safe Haven BabyBox in Mississippi, SuperTalk-FM, August 23, 2023
• SGH Promotes Safe Haven Baby Boxes, MageeNews.com, September 15, 2023
• Gluckstadt Police Dept. to have Safe Have Baby Box, WLBT-TV, November 15, 2023
• Effort raises funds for baby box, Daily Corinthian, November 16, 2023
• “It’s a God thing”: Gluckstadt raises $25K to install Safe Haven Baby Box, WLBT-TV, December 13, 2023

2022

• Nurse aims to bring Safe Haven Baby Boxes to the Gulf Coast, WXXV-TV, September 8, 2022.
• Mississippi City Proposes Newborn Safe Haven Wall Box, US News and World Report, September 21, 2022
• Baby drop box hits legal issues, Daily Corinthian, October 20, 2022
• Safe Haven Baby Boxes Contract Clarities Before Opening, Gazebo Gazette, November 21, 2022

Updated December 12, 2024