Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 14, 2026, as Black Midwives Day in the State of New York

2025 Regular Session

Urges the Governor to proclaim March 14, 2026, as Black Midwives Day to recognize Black midwives and promote awareness, education, and expanded support for midwifery.

REFERRED TO CALENDAR

Purpose and intent

The bill is Assembly Resolution No. 1338 (M. of A. Rules, Zinerman) purporting to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 14, 2026, as Black Midwives Day in the State of New York.

It aims to recognize the historical and ongoing contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health, address disparities in maternal health outcomes, and promote awareness, education, and advocacy around Black midwifery.

Key provisions and changes

Formal appeal to the Governor to issue a proclamation designating March 14, 2026, as Black Midwives Day in New York.

Statements of support and statements of principle embedded in the resolution:

Acknowledges the essential role of Black midwives in improving maternal health outcomes and addressing disparities.
Highlights the Black Midwives Day campaign, founded in 2023 by The National Black Midwives Alliance, as the basis for this observance.
Emphasizes the ongoing crisis of Black maternal health in the United States and the benefits of integrating midwives into maternity care.
Calls for removing barriers to midwifery practice, expanding education and training opportunities, ensuring fair compensation, and funding for workforce development.
Advocates for open educational and certification pathways to restore and sustain Black midwifery within communities.
Supports the notion that observing Black Midwives Day provides a platform for awareness, education, advocacy, and community engagement.

Who/what is affected

Government action: A formal proclamation by the Governor designating a specific day (March 14, 2026) as Black Midwives Day.

Black midwives and the broader maternal health community in New York State:

The resolution frames Black midwives as central to addressing racial disparities in maternal and infant health.
It implicitly supports efforts to expand midwifery education, training, and access to practice, though it does not itself create new funding, programs, or regulatory changes.

The general public and health stakeholders:

By promoting awareness and recognition, the resolution seeks to elevate discussions about midwifery’s role in improving outcomes and reducing disparities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Referred to Calendar (as of 2026-05-12).

Mechanism: This is a memorializing resolution, which, if enacted, would request the Governor to issue a proclamation—not create statutory requirements or new statewide mandates.

Timing: The resolution designates a specific date (March 14, 2026) for observance, contingent on the Governor’s proclamation.

Additional context

The resolution frames Black midwives as historically marginalized within health care systems and advocates for policy emphasis on access, full scope of practice, and workforce development.

It positions Black Midwives Day as a vehicle for recognizing contributions and advocating for improvements in education, certification pathways, compensation, and support for midwives.

Note: The document is a memorializing resolution, not a law. Its effect, if adopted, is to urge gubernatorial action and to acknowledge the importance of Black midwives in New York’s maternal and infant health landscape.