summary
Introduced
04/02/2025
04/02/2025
In Committee
04/03/2025
04/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Session
Bill Summary
AN ACT TO ENACT THE NORTH CAROLINA MOMNIBUS ACT. Whereas, every person should be entitled to dignity and respect during and after pregnancy and childbirth, and patients should receive the best care possible regardless of age, race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, citizenship, nationality, immigration status, primary language, or language proficiency; and Whereas, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world, where about 700 women die each year from childbirth and another 50,000 suffer from severe complications; and Whereas, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that the majority of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable; and Whereas, pregnancy-related deaths among black birthing people are also more likely to be miscoded; and Whereas, access to prenatal care, socioeconomic status, and general physical health do not fully explain the disparity seen in maternal mortality and morbidity rates among black individuals, and there is a growing body of evidence that black people are often treated unfairly and unequally in the health care system; and Whereas, implicit bias is a key driver of health disparities in communities of color; and Whereas, health care providers in North Carolina are not required to undergo any implicit bias testing or training; and Whereas, currently there does not exist any system to track the number of incidents where implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes led to negative birth and maternal health outcomes; and Whereas, it is in the interest of this State to reduce the effects of implicit bias in pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care so that all people are treated with dignity and respect by their health care providers; Now, therefore,
AI Summary
This bill establishes a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at improving maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black women in North Carolina. The legislation creates four main programs: a Maternal Care Access Grant Program, an Implicit Bias Training Program for health care professionals, a Lactation Consultant Training Program at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and a Perinatal Education Grant Program. The Maternal Care Access Grant Program will provide competitive grants to community-based organizations focused on preventing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women, with special consideration given to organizations led by Black women and serving communities with high maternal health disparities. The Implicit Bias Training Program will require health care professionals involved in perinatal care to complete a comprehensive training program that addresses unconscious biases, cultural competence, and the impact of systemic racism on health outcomes. The Lactation Consultant Training Program will provide $3 million to five HBCUs to support infrastructure for training a diverse workforce of lactation consultants, with the Department of Health and Human Services providing technical assistance. The Perinatal Education Grant Program will award grants to community-based organizations to establish or expand perinatal education programs in rural, underserved, or low-wealth areas. Additionally, the bill includes a Momni-Bus Initiative that will provide $6.5 million to expand access to maternal and infant health care services, including a grant to the March of Dimes and competitive grants to community organizations. The bill appropriates a total of approximately $14.5 million in recurring and non-recurring funds over the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to implement these programs, with the primary goal of addressing racial disparities and improving maternal health outcomes in North Carolina.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (25)
Vernetta Alston (D)*,
Zack Hawkins (D)*,
Monika Johnson-Hostler (D)*,
Julie Von Haefen (D)*,
Amber Baker (D),
Cynthia Ball (D),
Mary Belk (D),
Terry Brown (D),
Allen Buansi (D),
Laura Budd (D),
Deb Butler (D),
Maria Cervania (D),
Tracy Clark (D),
Sarah Crawford (D),
Allison Dahle (D),
Aisha Dew (D),
Pricey Harrison (D),
Beth Helfrich (D),
Frances Jackson (D),
Carolyn Logan (D),
Jordan Lopez (D),
Nasif Majeed (D),
Marcia Morey (D),
Rodney Pierce (D),
Renée Price (D),
Last Action
Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (on 04/03/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H725 |
| BillText | https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H725v1.pdf |
| BillText | https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H725v0.pdf |
Loading...