Bills: HB128, SB297, HB128, SB297

Keywords: HB128, Alabama Board of Nursing, Sunset Law, sunset review, nursing board, nurse licensure, registered nurse, RN, licensed practical nurse, LPN, advanced practice nursing, certified registered nurse anesthetist, CRNA, consumer member, board appointments, congressional districts, geographic representation, nursing regulation, nursing education programs, licensure compact

Transcript Highlights:

• She is a retired certified professional midwife and she's currently vice president of the Alabama Midwives
• Professional midwife and she's currently vice president of the Alabama Midwives Alliance.
• It makes the rules align with the North Alabama Registry of Midwife rules.

Bills: HB59, HB128, HB59, HB128

Keywords: early voting, electoral participation, voting centers, Alabama elections, absentee ballot, HB128, Alabama Board of Nursing, Sunset Law, sunset review, nursing board, nurse licensure, registered nurse, RN, licensed practical nurse, LPN, advanced practice nursing, certified registered nurse anesthetist, CRNA, consumer member, board appointments

Bills: HB99, HB49, HB164, SB30, SB43, SB50, SB136

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Bills: SB125, SB123, SB124, HB38, SB125, SB123, SB124, HB38

Keywords: oyster shell, tax credit, recycling, restaurant, state revenue, environmental benefit, sales tax exemption, seafood, fishing industry, local government, municipal exemption, seagrass restoration, environmental policy, water quality, marine ecosystems, conservation efforts, marine conservation, environmental remediation, coastal ecosystems, state waters

Bills: HB99, HJR5, HM39, HB206, HB213, SB41, SB153, SB165, SB261, SB264

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Bills: HB514, HB1652, HB2117, HB2298, HB3269, HB46, HB46

Keywords: maternal health, maternal care, pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum, doula, birth worker, midwife, obstetric care, women's health, rural health, health workforce, workforce development, trauma-informed care, public outreach campaign, health equity, minority health, underserved communities, Texas Department of State Health Services, HHSC

Bills: HB99, HB38, HB165, HB127, HB72, HB151, SB40, SB104, SB136, SB164

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Mandy Huber, nurse midwife.
• Huber and I a certified nurse Midwife Huber and I a certified nurse Midwife and<00:04:09.400>
• <00:05:08.960> lure education with certified midwife lure education with certified midwife
• Rebecca Poston, certified professional midwife and licensed midwife.
• Rebecca Poston, certified professional midwife and licensed midwife.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Language regarding what is a midwife, what is a certified midwife, what is a licensed midwife, what is
• , certified nurse midwife, certified midwife, and then there's other midwife, which I'm not clear what
• , certified nurse midwife, certified midwife, and then there's other midwife, which I'm not clear what
• , certified nurse midwife, certified midwife, and then there's other midwife, which I'm not clear what
• midwife or midwife or, um, certified nurse midwife or whatever, because if you actually query CDC data

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Committee on Health and Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce heard two midwifery bills, with testimony focused primarily on HB 1194. Committee chairs opened the hearing with rules for Zoom testimony and noted the bills relate to midwives. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said it supported the intent of HB 1194 and offered comments. Supporters of the bill, including the Midwives Alliance of Hawaii, argued that midwifery should remain subject to mandatory licensure to protect consumer safety, citing the state’s regulatory licensing standards and a 2025 state auditor sunset analysis. They said the bill would strengthen educational standards and public protection, and some offered clarifying amendments. Opponents argued HB 1194 would restrict access to care and fail to protect traditional, cultural, and community-based birth practices. Testifiers from the Hawaii Home Birth Task Force, the Hawaii Home Birth Collective, the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Pacific Birth Collective, and Papa Ola Lōkahi said the bill would limit licensure pathways, reduce access in rural and underserved areas, and burden Native Hawaiian and traditional practitioners. Several speakers said the measure could worsen Hawaii’s maternal health shortages, especially on Maui, and urged lawmakers to defer HB 1194 or instead advance HB 1328, which they said better protects practitioner access and cultural practices. The Hawaii affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives said it opposed HB 1194 because it did not align with national or state standards for certified midwives and could create conflicts with Medicaid reimbursement and prescriptive authority. The ACLU also opposed the measure, emphasizing reproductive rights, privacy, and the need to preserve apprenticeship pathways to licensure. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am an apprenticing poly-ki midwife inspired midwife, and I’m in strong opposition of HB 1194.
• I’m a licensed midwife. I’m also a certified professional midwife and an ARM preceptor.
• I am a student midwife on the PEP pathway, studying to be a certified professional midwife.
• I am a student midwife on the PEP pathway, studying to be a certified professional midwife.
• I am a student midwife on the PEP pathway, studying to be a certified professional midwife.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard extensive testimony on HB 1194 HD2, a bill to regulate midwifery and require accredited education for licensed midwives. Supporters, including the Midwives Alliance of Hawaii, ACOG, a pediatrician, and several licensed midwives, argued the bill would improve maternal and newborn safety, clarify the definition of midwife, strengthen accountability, and align Hawaii with national education standards. They said accredited training is necessary to avoid gaps in knowledge and to support safe transfers and collaboration with hospitals. Opponents, including many midwives, parents, cultural practitioners, and community groups, argued the bill would restrict access to care, criminalize traditional and apprenticeship-based midwifery, and undermine reproductive autonomy and Native Hawaiian and other cultural birthing practices. Several asked for amendments to preserve a birth attendant exemption, the PET/portfolio pathway, and cultural and religious protections. Others said the bill would disproportionately harm rural, Indigenous, and low-income families by making training and licensure less accessible. The committee also heard testimony from state and county entities and professional organizations, with some standing on written testimony and others offering brief comments. The chair repeatedly reminded testifiers of the one-minute limit and the possibility that final decision-making would be deferred if quorum was lost. The transcript does not show a final vote or action taken during this segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:57.560> lure in Minnesota the certified midwife lure in Minnesota the certified midwife
• left the certified nurse Midwife left the certified nurse Midwife Practice<00:15:03.600> Act<
• Minnesota Certified Midwife Act, Senate File 832.
• Minnesota Certified Midwife Act, Senate File 832.
• I'm testifying in support of the certified midwife bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , licensed midwife, or engage in a practice of midwifery unless licensed under this chapter.
• <00:30:35.600> licensed shall not use the title midwife licensed shall not use the title midwife
• or pretending or saying that they're a midwife, then they have not committed the crime.
• c><00:31:40.559> not they're a midwife that they have not they're a midwife that they have not
• ,<00:33:19.919> you're and not call yourself a midwife, you're and not call yourself a midwife

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary decision-making meeting on April 1, 2025 considered several measures previously heard in committee and took action on each. HB 228 HD1 SD1, relating to license plates, was recommended to pass with amendments defining the terms “cover” and “shield”; it was adopted with votes of aye from the chair, vice chair, Senator McKelvie, and Senator Richards, and a no from Senator Awa. HB 125 HD1, relating to firearms and secure storage notice requirements, was recommended to pass unamended and was adopted, though Senator McKelvie noted reservations and Senator OA did not vote. The committees also noted they would wait for a full complement on some JDC votes before finalizing all actions. HB 1194 HD2 SD1, relating to midwives, drew the most discussion and testimony. The recommendation was to pass with amendments, including DCCA-proposed changes and a revised effective date; members discussed concerns about regulation, the role of unlicensed birth attendants, and whether the bill could criminalize people present at births. The chair explained the intent was not to criminalize invited, uncompensated birth attendants who do not use the title “midwife,” while also clarifying limits on practicing midwifery without a license. The measure passed with reservations from Senator McKelvie and a no vote from Senator Awa. HB 348 HD1 SD1, relating to single-use plastics, was recommended to pass unamended and was adopted without objection. HB 874 SD1, concerning trust accounts for minors in theatrical employment, was recommended to pass with amendments accepting the Attorney General’s suggestion to remove rulemaking authority; it passed in both committees without opposition. After the CPN portion adjourned, JDC also took up HB 125 and HB 1194, adopting the same recommendations and passing both measures, with the midwifery bill again reflecting the committee’s intent to preserve invited, unpaid attendance at births while restricting unlicensed practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• As I said, my name is Mandy Huber, and I am a certified nurse midwife.
• Certified midwife licensure is the only policy Minnesota has not achieved yet.
• Rebecca Polston, Certified Professional Midwife and Licensed Midwife.
• I'm testifying in strong support of the certified midwife bill.
• and have exactly the same scope as the certified nurse midwife.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:00:49.760> That midwife uh degree program. That midwife uh degree program.
• Rebecca Pollston, certified professional midwife and licensed midwife.
• > midwife.
• Um, thank you licensed midwife.
• <01:13:43.760> So as the certified nurse midwife. So as the certified nurse midwife.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So a midwife can become a midwife by doing complete self-study, checking off all of her skills that are
• A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), also known as a licensed midwife, has some variations in why
• you obtain your licensed midwife license and just hold your licensed midwife status.
• That midwife is still practicing today.
• and a certified nurse midwife.

Bills: HB3772, HB1656, HB4504, HB1896, HB4420, HB4421, HB4076, HB3708, HB2806, HB3540, HB1586, HB5459, HB4553, HB4535, HB3811, HB3749, HB4255, HB4051, HB5098, HB3554, HB4539, HB5274

Keywords: e-cigarettes, health and safety, regulations, directory, penalties, regulation, certification, compliance, manufacturers, FDA, nicotine, mental health, emergency detention, paramedic authority, mental illness, healthcare facility, public health, covenants not to compete, health care practitioners, physicians

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Morgan Burris, and I am a licensed midwife.
• Jordan was a nurse and aspired to be a midwife.
• So no one has to take the midwife, but if you want a midwife, I know when I talk to most EMTs, they would
• , do we have permission to bring this midwife to continue care with us?”
• The EMT calls in: ‘We have a midwife requesting to go in. We don’t have room.

Bills: HB2190, HB2202, HB2233, HB2251, HB2252, HB2396, HB2437, HB2689, HB2796

Keywords: physician assistants, licensure compact, medical services, multistate practice, patient care access, healthcare workforce, military families, adverse actions, dementia care, telementoring, healthcare education, rural communities, grant funding, HB 2233, rural health transformation, rural health transformation program, AHCCCS, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Joint Legislative Budget Committee, JLBC

Transcript Highlights:

• because I knew that under a midwife, my newborn and I would be seen and cared for.
• My name is Rachel Blessington, and I am a midwife from central Massachusetts.
• , and a CNM, a certified nurse midwife.
• So I'm currently licensed and practicing as a certified nurse midwife here in Massachusetts.
• I'm a certified professional midwife. I live in Roxbury and serve the Boston area.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing with testimony on several health care bills, with most of the discussion focused on primary care access, community health center reimbursement, midwifery and birth centers, telehealth, hospital-at-home, direct primary care, and trans-inclusive health care access. Chair Feeney and Chair Murphy opened by noting the large number of signups and asking testifiers to keep remarks brief because of time constraints. Legislators and witnesses repeatedly emphasized that Massachusetts’ primary care system is under strain and that federal policy changes and reimbursement gaps are worsening financial pressure on providers. On community health centers, Representative Blay, Senator Lovely, Michael Curry, Bethany Keeley, Jag Deep Trevetti, Sean Cahill, and Christina Severin all supported H. 1096/S. 711, which would require commercial insurers to pay federally qualified health centers at least the MassHealth prospective payment system rate. They argued that commercial plans currently reimburse health centers below Medicaid rates, threatening sustainability, staffing, and access, especially as federal cuts and coverage losses could increase uncompensated care. Testifiers said the bill would stabilize health centers, protect primary care access, and not cost the state money. A second major topic was H. 1117/S. 784 on sustaining birth centers and the midwifery workforce. Senator Lovely, Senator Miranda, Emily Anesta, Rebecca Orden, Catherine Rushworth, Nishira Burrill, Joel Sutherland, Rachel Blessington, Joelle Ward, and others described the 2024 maternal health omnibus as an important first step, but said birth centers and midwives still face low reimbursement, workforce shortages, and financial instability. They urged reimbursement parity, a workforce development fund, and support for freestanding birth centers, citing improved outcomes, lower C-section rates, better patient experience, and racial equity in maternal health. Several speakers shared personal birth stories and said the bill would help preserve and expand birth options in communities like Roxbury, Worcester, and the North Shore. The committee also heard support for H. 1343 on direct primary care from Dr. Garofalo, Dr. Altman, Dr. Nair, Stephanie Cameron, Dr. Haley Moke-Blessed, and others, who said current insurance rules force patients to use a separate in-network primary care doctor for referrals and sometimes prevent physicians from dispensing medications. They argued the bill would reduce delays, administrative burden, and costs while improving continuity of care. In addition, Dr. Miklides and Sue Stempeck supported H. 1141 on hospital-at-home parity, saying the model has strong outcomes and should be reimbursed at the same rate as brick-and-mortar hospital care. Heather Myers and Katrina Cook testified on telehealth and digital health equity, urging broader coverage for asynchronous care, remote monitoring, interpreter services, and digital literacy supports. SEIU Local 509 supported H. 1188/S. 681 on trans-inclusive health care access, saying it would remove arbitrary insurance barriers to gender-affirming care. No votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and also qualified midwife language.
• <01:01:30.240> That the services of a licensed midwife.
• That the services of a licensed midwife.
• Jesus was born without a licensed midwife present. Joseph, please proceed. Thank you.
• born without a licensed midwife present. born without a licensed midwife present.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:46:13.080> this school to become a licensed Midwife this school to become a licensed Midwife
• become a licensed professional Midwife become a licensed professional Midwife in<04:18:49.439>
• He was born in Hawaii under the care of a person calling themself a midwife.
• He was born in Hawaii under the care of a person calling themself a midwife.
• . ...with an unlicensed midwife whose work was unregulated and unmonitored.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ' or 'licensed midwife.'
• <03:50:05.319> or person to use the title Midwife or person to use the title Midwife or licensed
• <03:50:06.479> Midwife<03:50:07.479> and<03:50:07.840> 10<03:50:08.840> amend
• Midwife and 10 amend from dcc's testimony<03:50:11.080> to<03:50:11.279> clarify<03:50
• May that a clear that the Midwife May that a midwife<03:51:05.279> May<03:51:06.040> delegate

Keywords: 910, house, all