2026 -- H 7322

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND MATERNAL HEALTH

IMPROVEMENT AND EQUITY ACT OF 2026

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Cortvriend, McGaw, Edwards, Shallcross Smith,
and Boylan

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2026

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     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:

CHAPTER 13.9

THE RHODE ISLAND MATERNAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND EQUITY ACT OF

2026

     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;

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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

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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:

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     (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.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND MATERNAL HEALTH

IMPROVEMENT AND EQUITY ACT OF 2026

***

     This act would establish the Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act

of 2026, to establish permanent statewide support for maternal health and to implement the

maternal health strategic plan improving maternal health care and access. This act would

appropriate for FY 26-27 the sum of $2,700,000 for the program.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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