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HB 552

Education - As introduced, enacts the "Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act," which creates a new category of independent home schools that are not subject to the data collection, reporting, or assessment requirements applicable to existing independent home school programs and that exempts such home school students and parents from compulsory school attendance requirements; prohibits the department of safety from conditioning the issuance of a driver license or learner's permit on a school-aged applicant's attendance record or enrollment status. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 55.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Todd Warner

The bill creates a Maternal Mortality Prevention Grant Program to fund community-led, culturally congruent perinatal supports (doulas, CHWs, education) aimed at reducing maternal d

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Bill Summary · HB 552

Summary — HB 552: “2023 MOMnibus Act”

Status: Introduced (text provided is the 2023 “MOMnibus” House bill).
Primary purpose: to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in North Carolina—with a particular focus on racial disparities affecting Black birthing people—by supporting community-based prevention programs, strengthening perinatal supports, and improving data, training, and capacity for culturally congruent care.

Main goals / intent

  • Reduce preventable pregnancy-related deaths and severe complications.
  • Address racial disparities (especially elevated risk for Black women) by funding community-led interventions and promoting culturally respectful care.
  • Strengthen community capacity (doulas, community health workers, peer supports) and improve data collection, program evaluation, and sustainability of prevention efforts.

Key provisions (select highlights from the bill text)

  • Establishes a Maternal Mortality Prevention Grant Program administered by the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
    • Eligible applicants: community‑based organizations aligned with evidence‑based practices to improve maternal outcomes for Black women.
    • Outreach / application assistance: DHHS must begin outreach and provide application help beginning July 1, 2023.
    • Awards: up to five (5) competitive grants; each award must be at least $10,000 and not more than $50,000 per recipient.
    • Prioritization: preference for applicants (a) based in communities with high adverse maternal outcomes and racial disparities, (b) led by Black women, and (c) offering programs designed in consultation with Black women.
  • Eligible program activities (examples listed in bill) include:
    • Maternal mental‑health and substance‑use treatment aligned with evidence‑based practices.
    • Addressing social determinants in prenatal/postpartum periods (housing, transportation, nutrition, lactation support, childcare, baby supplies, lead abatement, employment barriers).
    • Health-literacy, pregnancy/parenting education, group programs and peer support.
    • Individually tailored support (doulas, perinatal health workers) spanning pregnancy through one year postpartum.
    • Training for perinatal workforce (culturally respectful/congruent training for doulas, CHWs, lactation consultants, etc.).
    • Research and community‑specific program development.
  • DHHS technical assistance: capacity building, best practices for data collection/measurement/evaluation, and sustainability planning for grant-supported programs.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Black women and families in communities with high maternal morbidity/mortality.
  • Community-based organizations (especially those led by Black women) that provide perinatal supports and social‑services linkages.
  • Perinatal workforce (doulas, community health workers, lactation consultants) who may receive training and be engaged by funded programs.
  • DHHS (administration, outreach, technical assistance, grant oversight).

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • The bill directs DHHS to begin outreach and application assistance starting July 1, 2023 (per the text).
  • Grants are competitive; limit of five awards, $10,000–$50,000 each.
  • DHHS must provide technical assistance to grantees (data, capacity, sustainability).

Potential impact and considerations

  • Targeted small‑grant support can help community organizations scale evidence‑based, culturally congruent interventions (doulas, peer support, social‑determinants services) that research ties to improved maternal outcomes.
  • By prioritizing organizations led by Black women and those operating in high‑need areas, the program aims to address structural contributors to disparities.
  • Grant amounts are modest; impact will depend on sustained funding, coordination with health systems, and DHHS capacity to provide technical assistance and measure outcomes.
  • The bill includes a strong focus on data collection and evaluation—important for scaling effective interventions—but success depends on DHHS implementation and future appropriations.

If you want, I can (1) extract the remaining sections of the MOMnibus bill (training, reporting, Medicaid/doula policy, or perinatal clinical measures) if available, or (2) prepare a one‑page briefing for lawmakers or community groups summarizing application steps and eligibility.

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

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