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H 7626Public Health

Health and Safety - The Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026

This bill creates a board, data tracking systems, and grant programs to improve health care for pregnant women and mothers.

Held for study
Population
Affected
25
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Introduced Feb 11, 2026Committee House Health & Human Services

Plain-English Summary

This legislation, titled "The Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026," establishes a framework to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities in the state. It creates a seven-member advisory board to oversee a strategic plan and advises the Department of Health. The bill mandates the creation of a maternal health data and surveillance unit to track health outcomes and social determinants. Additionally, it establishes a workforce development program to train midwives and doulas and creates a grant program to fund community-based maternal health services, specifically targeting urban and coastal areas.

For younger readers

This new law is designed to help moms and their babies stay healthy. It creates a special group of people who will work with the government to make sure moms get good care from doctors and nurses. It also sets up a program to train more helpers, like midwives, who assist moms when they have babies. The law also gives money to groups in neighborhoods to help moms get rides to the doctor or find other help they need. The goal is to make sure all moms, no matter where they live, are safe and healthy.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Pregnant women and new mothersMidwives, doulas, and birth workersDepartment of Health employeesCommunity-based non-profitsUniversities and colleges
Impacted communities
Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Explicitly addresses racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in healthcare by mandating data collection on social determinants like housing and neighborhood disadvantage.
  • Expands the maternal health workforce by investing in midwives, doulas, and culturally concordant birth workers, which empowers community-based care models.
  • Directs resources and grants specifically to underserved urban core communities and areas facing environmental stressors, ensuring aid reaches the most vulnerable populations.
  • The advisory board is composed entirely of political appointees (Governor, Senate President, Speaker), which may limit direct grassroots or patient representation in decision-making.
  • While it establishes programs, the bill relies on a future budget request (FY 2029) for long-term sustainability, leaving funding vulnerable to future political shifts.
  • The language regarding "surveillance" of maternal data could potentially be weaponized or invade the privacy of marginalized communities if not strictly protected.
For Conservatives
  • Utilizes an existing federal grant to fund the initial setup of the program, minimizing the immediate financial burden on state taxpayers.
  • Focuses on data modernization and outcome monitoring, which aligns with the principle of holding government programs accountable for results.
  • Encourages workforce development and partnerships with private/non-profit entities, potentially stimulating job growth in the healthcare sector without expanding the state workforce directly.
  • Creates a permanent new government advisory board and bureaucracy that will eventually require state taxpayer funding once federal grants expire.
  • Integrates "social and environmental determinants" like climate change into health policy, which may be viewed as expanding the scope of government beyond medical care.
  • Mandates loan repayment and scholarships for specific job sectors, which may be seen as the government picking winners and losers in the labor market.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 111 additions

SECTION 1. Legislative findings. The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(1) The Rhode Island department of health (RIDOH) has been awarded a five-year federal Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) grant by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), beginning in late 2023, to improve maternal health outcomes statewide.

(2) Rhode Island continues to experience racial, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality.

(3) The MHI grant establishes and funds the Rhode Island maternal health task force

(RIMHTF) and supports the development of a statewide maternal health strategic plan.

(4) Improving maternal health requires data modernization, strengthened workforce pipelines including midwives and community birth workers, expanded access to culturally congruent perinatal care, and alignment with social and environmental determinants of health.

(5) Long-term sustainability is essential. Statewide support must continue beyond the five- year federal award.

(6) Rhode Island’s maternal health outcomes directly impact long-term family well-being, early childhood outcomes, and community resilience, particularly in coastal and urban areas vulnerable to environmental stressors.

SECTION 2. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 23-13.9-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026". 23-13.9-2. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) “Department” means the Rhode Island department of health.

(2) “Director” means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.

(3) “Maternal health workforce” includes certified nurse-midwives, certified professional midwives, doulas, perinatal community health workers, lactation consultants, and culturally concordant birth workers.

(4) "MHI" means the five (5) year federal Maternal Health Innovation grant by the Health Resources and Service Administration ("HRSA") awarded to the Rhode Island department of health

(DOH) beginning in 2023.

(5) “Strategic plan” means the Rhode Island maternal health strategic plan produced under the federal grant.

(6) “Task force” means the Rhode Island maternal health task force established by the department of health under the Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal Health Innovation grant. 23-13.9-3. Creation and duties of advisory board.

(a) The Rhode Island maternal health advisory board ("advisory board") is hereby created and established to perform the duties and exercise the powers set forth in this section. Pursuant to the powers delegated to the department, the department shall have the responsibility for supervising, organizing, and evaluating the advisory board. The advisory board shall consult with the task force to carry out its duties pursuant to subsection (g) of this section.

(b) The advisory board shall consist of seven (7) members. Three (3) members shall be appointed by the governor; two (2) members shall be appointed by the president of the senate; and two (2) members shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. Due consideration shall be given to appointing persons with expertise and experience in the maternal health workforce.

(c) The members of the advisory board shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years; provided, however, with regard to the initial appointments, three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of one year; two (2) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years; and two (2) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Members may be reappointed, and their appointment shall continue until their successors shall be appointed. A vacancy, other than by expiration, shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment, but only for the unexpired portion of the term.

(d) The members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation.

(e) The governor shall appoint a chairperson; a vice-chairperson and secretary shall be elected annually by the advisory board members. All officers of the advisory board shall serve until their successors have been duly appointed or elected.

(f) The advisory board shall meet at least quarterly or at the call of the chairperson of the advisory board. The chairperson of the advisory board, or designee, shall be present for all advisory board meetings.

(g) The advisory board shall have the following purposes and duties:

(1) Oversee the implementation of the maternal health strategic plan;

(2) Make recommendations as to improvements in maternal care access and outcomes;

(3) Review statewide maternal data and disparities;

(4) Advise the department in developing and maintaining the maternal health data and surveillance unit pursuant to § 23-13.9-4;

(5) Advise the department in establishing a maternal health workforce development program pursuant to § 23-13.9-5;

(6) Advise the department in awarding competitive community maternal health access grants pursuant to § 23-13.9-6; and

(7) Report annually to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the director commencing July 1, 2027, and July 1 annually thereafter.

(h) The advisory board shall continue beyond the expiration of the federal MHI grant and report annually by July 1, commencing July 1, 2027, to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the director on the progress of MHI grant objectives; funding necessary to sustain programs upon the expiration of the grant; and recommendations to ensure statewide supports become permanent.

(i) In addition to sums of money received from the federal government and in addition to appropriations made by the general assembly, the department may accept in the name of and on behalf of the state gifts of money, other than federal and state government allotments or appropriations, which shall be construed as gifts and shall be deposited by the general treasurer in an account or accounts of the department that the director may designate. The provisions of § 35- 4-1 shall not apply to this subsection, insofar as they relate to the disposal of money received as gifts. 23-13.9-4. Maternal health data modernization.

(a) The department shall develop and maintain a maternal health data and surveillance unit responsible for:

(1) Monitoring maternal morbidity and mortality across prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum periods;

(2) Integrating data on social and environmental determinants, including housing stability, transportation access, exposure to extreme heat or flooding, and neighborhood disadvantage;

(3) Commencing July 1, 2027, and July 1 annually thereafter, provide a Rhode Island maternal health outcomes report to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the director; and

(4) Supporting data requirements of the federal MHI grant.

(b) The department is authorized to:

(1) Contract with academic, clinical, or community partners; and

(2) Collect data from licensed maternity care providers, hospitals, and community birth workers. 23-13.9-5. Maternal health workforce development program.

(a) The department shall establish a maternal health workforce development program to:

(1) Expand training pathways for midwives, community birth workers, and doulas;

(2) Support bilingual and culturally concordant workforce pipelines;

(3) Provide scholarships, stipends, or loan repayment for trainees who commit to serving in maternal health shortage areas; and

(4) Partner with Rhode Island colleges, universities, and community-based organizations.

(b) Priority shall be given to workforce expansion in:

(1) Aquidneck Island and Newport county;

(2) Urban core communities; and

(3) Medically underserved coastal areas.

(c) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section. 23-13.9-6. Community-based maternal health access grants.

(a) The department shall award competitive community maternal health access grants to expand local supports including:

(1) Prenatal navigation services;

(2) Doula and community birth worker programs;

(3) Local transportation assistance for maternal medical appointments; and

(4) Programs addressing postpartum mental health, breastfeeding support, and home- visiting services.

(b) Eligible entities include community-based nonprofits, health centers, tribal nations, hospitals, and municipalities. 23-13.9-7. Budget. Beginning FY 2029, the department shall submit a maternal health sustainability plan in its budget request. 23-13.9-8. Regulations. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.