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SR 24

A resolution to commemorate April 11-17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sarah Anthony and 14 co-sponsors

Designates April 11-17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week in Michigan to spotlight racial disparities in maternal outcomes and urge community-driven solutions.

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Bill Summary · SR 24

Summary — SR 24 (Michigan Senate Resolution)

Title: A resolution to commemorate April 11–17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week
Status: Adopted by the Michigan Senate (adopted April 16, 2025)
Type: Senate resolution (commemorative/non‑binding)
Primary sponsor / offerors: Senator Erika Geiss; co‑sponsors include Senators Anthony, Bayer, Chang, Cherry, Damoose, Irwin, Klinefelt, McCann, McMorrow, Moss, Polehanki, Santana, Shink, Wojno

Main purpose and intent

SR 24 designates the week of April 11–17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week in Michigan and highlights racial disparities in maternal health. The resolution calls attention to the disproportionate maternal morbidity and mortality experienced by Black women, supports community‑driven solutions, and urges increased focus on causes and remedies for these disparities.

Key findings and provisions (as stated in the resolution)

  • Cites CDC 2023 pregnancy‑related death data showing national disparities:
    • 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births for Black women
    • 14.5 deaths per 100,000 live births for white women
    • 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births for women of all races
  • Notes the U.S. spends an estimated $111 billion per year on maternal, prenatal, and newborn care but has comparatively poor outcomes among high‑income nations.
  • Reports additional disparities:
    • Black women have the highest percentage of preterm births (14.8%).
    • Higher rates of other health inequities (heart disease, cervical cancer, reproductive disorders such as fibroids and endometriosis).
    • NIH findings that Black women with common pregnancy complications (preeclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, etc.) are 3–4 times more likely to die than white women with the same conditions.
  • Michigan‑specific data (Michigan Maternal Mortality Surveillance Project, 2016–2020):
    • Pregnancy‑related mortality: 36.5 deaths per 100,000 live births for Black women vs. 16.3 per 100,000 for white women.
  • Recognizes structural racism and gaps in quality of care as root causes; highlights inadequate family and medical leave policies that affect recovery and employment after childbirth.
  • Expresses support for:
    • Community‑driven programs and care solutions
    • Improvements to prenatal and maternal healthcare, breastfeeding support, and nutrition
    • Amplifying the voices of Black mothers, including Afro‑Latinx and diaspora communities
  • Affirms the necessity of working to end maternal mortality at the state, national, and global levels.

Who is affected

  • Symbolically targets policymakers, health systems, community organizations, maternal health advocates, and the public to increase awareness of Black maternal health disparities.
  • Directly references Black mothers and families in Michigan and nationwide as the populations of concern.

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • Introduced and offered in the Michigan Senate in 2025; adopted by the Senate on April 16, 2025.
  • As a legislative resolution (commemorative), it does not appropriate funds or create programs by itself.

Potential impact

  • Raises public and legislative awareness of racial disparities in maternal outcomes and may help galvanize support for future policy, funding, data collection, and programmatic responses (e.g., maternal mortality review enhancements, community health investments, paid leave reforms).
  • Serves as an official statement of the Senate’s priorities and may be used by advocates and agencies to justify subsequent, binding legislative or administrative actions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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