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S 2358Public Health

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

This bill creates a board, data unit, and grant programs to improve maternal healthcare and workforce training in Rhode Island.

Held for study
Population
Affected
28
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 30, 2026Committee Senate Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation enacts the "Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026." It establishes a seven-member advisory board to oversee a statewide strategic plan aimed at improving maternal health outcomes. The bill mandates the creation of a data and surveillance unit within the Department of Health to monitor maternal morbidity and social determinants of health. Additionally, it funds a workforce development program to train midwives and doulas, offering financial incentives for those serving shortage areas. The bill appropriates $2.7 million annually starting in 2026 to support these initiatives and community-based grants.

For younger readers

This bill wants to help moms and babies stay healthy. It creates a special group of people to make a plan for better medical care. It sets aside money to teach more people how to be midwives and helpers for new moms. It also helps pay for rides to the doctor and other support. The goal is to make sure every mom, no matter where she lives, gets good care when she has a baby. The state will spend money every year to make sure these helpers are available.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Pregnant womenMidwives and doulasLow-income familiesHealthcare providersCommunity-based non-profits
Impacted communities
Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
$1.73
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Directly addresses racial and socioeconomic health disparities by funding culturally concordant care and targeting resources to underserved urban and coastal communities.
  • Expands the social safety net by providing state-funded grants for essential non-medical support services like transportation, prenatal navigation, and postpartum mental health care.
  • Strengthens the workforce pipeline for midwives and doulas through scholarships and loan repayment, promoting economic opportunity and diversifying the healthcare field.
  • The appropriation of $2.7 million may be insufficient to fully address the deep-rooted systemic inequities in maternal health across the entire state.
  • Relies partly on the sustainability of federal grant structures, which could lead to gaps in service if federal priorities shift or funding is cut in the future.
  • While it creates an advisory board, the specific power to enforce changes in private hospital systems or insurance coverage remains limited compared to direct mandates.
For Conservatives
  • Promotes family well-being and early childhood outcomes, aligning with traditional values of supporting mothers and the birth of healthy children.
  • Utilizes a targeted approach by focusing on specific shortage areas and workforce development rather than creating a broad, undefined entitlement program.
  • Encourages partnerships with private colleges and community-based organizations, potentially reducing total reliance on state-run bureaucracy for training delivery.
  • Increases government spending by appropriating $2.7 million annually of taxpayer money to supplement federal grants, expanding the size of the state budget.
  • Creates a new government advisory board and surveillance unit, increasing bureaucracy and state oversight into private medical data and community health.
  • Focuses heavily on "equity," "social determinants," and "culturally concordant" care, which may be viewed as prioritizing identity politics over merit-based medical standards.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 125 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;

(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. Appropriations.

(a) Beginning FY 2026, and annually thereafter, there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of two million seven hundred thousand dollars ($2,700,000). The monies shall be appropriated as follows:

(1) Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) for the maternal health data and surveillance unit established pursuant to § 23-13.9-4;

(2) One million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) for the workplace development program established pursuant to § 23-13.9-5;

(3) Six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) for community maternal health access grants established pursuant to § 23-13.9- 6; and

(4) One hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for advisory council operations, community engagement and reporting.

(b) The amounts appropriated pursuant to this section shall supplement the federal MHI funds and are not intended to supplant federal MHI funds. 23-13.9-9. 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.