Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 14, 2026, as Black Midwives Day in the State of New York
Assembly Resolution 1338 is a memorializing resolution that asks Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 14, 2026, as Black Midwives Day in New York State. The resolution recognizes Black midwives for their role in maternal and infant health, especially in addressing racial disparities, improving birth outcomes, and providing culturally congruent, community-centered care to Black birthing people.
The resolution frames Black maternal health as a continuing crisis and highlights the importance of midwifery in expanding access to safe antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care. It also emphasizes the historical exclusion of Black midwives from health care systems, the need to support education and certification pathways, and the value of investing in the midwifery workforce.
This resolution does not change state law or create new regulatory requirements. Its legal effect is limited to a formal legislative request that the Governor issue a proclamation and to the public recognition of Black midwives and their contributions. The measure may help raise awareness of maternal health disparities and support broader policy discussions about midwifery access, workforce development, and maternal health equity, but it does not itself amend any statutes or direct agency action.
The tone of the resolution is strongly supportive and celebratory. It presents Black midwives as essential health care providers and frames the observance as a way to honor their contributions while drawing attention to maternal health inequities. Because there are no recorded votes or committee transcripts, there is no documented opposition in the available materials, and the bill appears to be noncontroversial in its stated purpose.
No specific points of contention are documented in the available record. The resolution does, however, touch on broader policy themes that can be debated in other contexts, including restrictions on midwifery practice, funding for education and certification, fair compensation, and the role of midwives in the maternity care system. Those issues are referenced as goals or concerns in the text, but the resolution itself only seeks a commemorative proclamation.