Mississippi Governor Signs ‘Culture of Life’ Legislation Giving Pregnant Mothers Alternatives to Abortion

Pro-life activists celebrate outside the Supreme Court after the top court ruled to erase a federal right to an abortion and sent abortion law to the states to decide, on June 24, 2022. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed a series of “Culture of Life” bills on Wednesday giving pregnant mothers alternatives to abortion.

“Mississippi will always protect life,” Reeves said in a press release. “Our state will continue to be a beacon on the hill, a symbol of hope for the country, and a model for the nation.”

Reeves said the legislation was written to fortify the state’s adoption system and pregnancy resource centers.

In addition, it establishes a foster parents’ bill of rights, creates a task force set up to improve the adoption and foster care system, and increases the budget for the Department of Child Protection Services.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, Reeves told Fox News Sunday that the state must prove that being pro-life isn’t only about being anti-abortion; it has to enact policies that support pro-life decisions.

“We’re going to convince those moms that yes, those lives are precious, and there are people in this world and there are people in the state of Mississippi who love not only the moms but also the babies,” he said. “We’re looking to do everything we can to help create a forever home for every single baby in Mississippi and we believe we will save lives by doing so.”

‘Culture of Life’ Bills

House Bill 510 revises the foster care placement program and sets up a foster parents’ bill of rights that calls for more accountability in the foster care system while preventing potential child exploitation and human trafficking.

“The legislation increases transparency for foster parents, expands communication opportunities with professionals, and makes the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services personnel more readily available for foster parents,” Reeves said. “Additionally, it helps ensure that the educational needs of foster children are being met and provides access to available resources for parents.”

House Bill 1671 increases the tax credit for pregnancy resource centers from $3.5 million to $10 million.

House Bill 1625 gives the Mississippi Department of Child Protection what Reeves described as “the largest budget in its history.”

“This equips the agency with the resources needed to effectively carry out its mission and better support Mississippi children,” Reeves said.

Reeves said House Bill 1318 gives more opportunities to parents who want to adopt by authorizing “safe haven baby boxes across Mississippi.”

“The legislation increases the age that children can be dropped off at these boxes, authorizes safety devices to be sponsored by emergency medical service providers, and authorizes any city or county to sponsor a baby safety device,” Reeves said.

Senate Bill 2384 creates the Mississippi Task Force on Foster Care and Adoption, a task force that Reeves said will study state laws on adoption and foster care to improve state laws by working with the legislature.

“Mississippi will be relentless in its commitment to life,” Reeves said. “We will be relentless in our support of mothers and children. And we will be relentless in our efforts to advance the New Pro-life Agenda. The legislation I signed today is further proof that when it comes to protecting life, Mississippi isn’t just talking the talk – we’re walking the walk.”

Frank Fang contributed to this report.