Bill > HB407

This bill establishes and refines the licensing framework for midwives in Hawaii, with a focus on supporting both certified midwives and certified professional midwives while preserving cultural birthing practices. The legislation continues the existing midwife licensing program originally established in 2019, but expands its scope to address several key issues. It provides detailed licensing requirements for two types of midwives - certified midwives (who typically have graduate degrees) and certified professional midwives (who may have alternative educational pathways), and grants them specific prescriptive authorities and practice scopes. The bill creates a midwives licensing advisory committee to help implement the program and establishes a temporary home birth task force to study and make recommendations about home birth practices. Importantly, the legislation explicitly protects traditional Native Hawaiian healing practices and allows for alternative birthing attendants who do not use legend drugs, while requiring clear disclosures about their qualifications. The bill aims to improve access to maternal healthcare, particularly for underserved communities, by creating more flexible pathways to midwifery certification and recognizing the cultural significance of birthing practices. Additionally, it requires annual reporting to the legislature about midwife licensing, complaints, and other relevant statistics, and mandates that health insurance plans cover midwifery services.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=407&year=2026