Bill > HB4553

This bill introduces comprehensive mandatory reporting requirements for licensed midwives in Texas, specifically mandating that midwives submit a detailed Birth & Outcomes Report to the Department of State Health Services and Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation within 10 days of attending any birth outside a hospital setting. The report must include extensive information about the birth, such as midwife details, birth location, gestational age, birth type, APGAR scores, birth weight, complications, interventions, hospital transfers, and survival status of both mother and newborn. The bill establishes a graduated enforcement mechanism for non-compliance, with penalties ranging from written warnings for first-time offenses to potential license suspension for repeated failures to report. Midwives who submit false or incomplete reports could face significant fines up to $5,000 and potential license revocation. The legislation also requires state agencies to conduct random audits, cross-check reports with hospital data, and publicly display de-identified statistics on maternal and neonatal outcomes. The bill, named "Malik's Law," is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and aims to improve transparency and accountability in out-of-hospital birth practices by creating a comprehensive reporting system.