House Bill 904 would repeal several Mississippi statutes that currently restrict abortion and related conduct. Specifically, it would remove the state law that prohibits abortion except to preserve the mother’s life or in cases of rape, and it would also repeal three criminal provisions: one making it a felony to willfully and knowingly cause a pregnant woman to abort or miscarry, one making it a felony to allow a child delivered in a failed abortion to die, and one making it a misdemeanor to provide an instrument or medicine to assist in obtaining an abortion.
If enacted, the bill would substantially change Mississippi’s abortion-related legal framework by eliminating both the direct abortion prohibition and associated criminal penalties. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and would therefore remove these restrictions from the Mississippi Code as of that date, affecting patients, healthcare providers, and others who could otherwise be subject to criminal liability under the repealed sections.
Impact
HB904 would repeal Sections 41-41-45 and 97-3-3 through 97-3-5 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, removing the state’s abortion ban and related criminal offenses tied to abortion, miscarriage, failed abortion outcomes, and assistance in obtaining an abortion. The practical effect would be to decriminalize conduct that is currently prohibited under those provisions and to eliminate statutory penalties for providers or others involved in abortion-related care. The bill would take effect July 1, 2025, if enacted.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes in the provided materials, the available sentiment is limited to the bill’s clear policy direction: it is a pro-repeal, abortion-rights-oriented measure that seeks to roll back existing restrictions. The caption and text indicate an intent to remove criminal and legal barriers rather than modify them incrementally. No recorded floor or committee debate is available here to show broader support or opposition.
Contention
The central point of contention is abortion policy itself, especially the repeal of Mississippi’s prohibition on abortion except in limited circumstances. Supporters would likely view the bill as restoring access to abortion care and eliminating criminal exposure for patients and providers, while opponents would likely object to removing protections they see as safeguarding fetal life and limiting abortion. The repeal of criminal statutes concerning miscarriage, failed abortions, and provision of abortion-related instruments or medicine may also raise concerns among critics about enforcement, medical practice, and the scope of lawful reproductive healthcare.