Bill
SB 906
The bill funds a comprehensive set of grants, training, and programs to reduce maternal mortality and disparities—especially for Black women—through community-based support, implic
Purpose and overall aim
- SB 906 enacts the North Carolina MOMnibus Act, a multi-part package intended to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity (MM/SM) with a focus on Black women, address implicit bias in perinatal care, and expand access to maternal and infant health services through grant programs and targeted initiatives.
- The bill emphasizes dignity and equitable care in pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care, and aims to reduce disparities in maternal health outcomes.
Key provisions by Part
Part I – Supporting Community-Based Organizations
- Establishes the Maternal Care Access Grant Program within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health.
- Definitions set for terms such as “culturally respectful congruent,” “postpartum,” and “department.”
- Grants: Competitive grants to community-based organizations to prevent MM/SM among Black women. Grants: $10,000 to $50,000 per recipient; aim for geographic distribution across the state; outreach prioritized for:
- Organizations based in communities with high adverse maternal health outcomes
- Black women–led organizations
- Programs aligned with evidence-based practices for Black women’s maternal health
- Activities funded may include: mental health, substance use treatment, addressing social determinants (housing, transportation, nutrition, childcare, etc.), lactation support, health literacy, doulas/perinatal workers, culturally respectful training, research, and other community-specific needs.
- Technical assistance and capacity-building support to grant recipients; reporting to Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and Fiscal Research Division.
- Required reports:
- By Oct 1, 2027: funds expended, outreach effectiveness, and diversification recommendations
- By Oct 1, 2028: funds expended for 2027-2028, program effectiveness, and future funding recommendations
- Appropriations: $5,000,000 general funds recurring (FY 2026-2027 onward) to fund the program, plus $93,513 for a full-time Public Health Program Coordinator IV to administer and report on the program. Effective July 1, 2026.
Part II – Implicit Bias in Health Care
- Creates implicit bias training requirements for perinatal care providers.
- Establishes § 130A-33.62 (implicit bias training) and § 130A-33.63 (rights of perinatal care patients) to be implemented by the DHHS in collaboration with Black-led organizations and HBCUs.
- Training program components: identification of implicit biases, cultural identities, trauma-informed care, health inequities, communication across identities, power dynamics, and patient-centered decision making.
- Completion deadlines:
- Existing licensees: complete training by Dec 31, 2027 (if licensed by 12/31/2026)
- New licensees: complete within 1 year of licensure
- Licensing authorities cannot renew licenses without proof of completion within the 24 months prior to renewal
- Outreach: Expand access to the program to maternity care providers, front-line staff, and broader health education pathways (including SBHCs, EMS partners, and telehealth lactation services).
- Data collection: Gather data on maternal mortality and related factors (rates by age, race/ethnicity, SES, geography) to inform program improvements.
- Budget: $2,500,000 recurring funds starting 2026-2027 to implement and operate the implicit bias program.
- Effective dates: Section 2.1(a) effective Oct 1, 2026; Section 2.1(b) effective July 1, 2026.
- Rights of perinatal care patients (Section 2.1(a) § 130A-33.63): Establishes patient rights, including information on post-discharge care, non-discrimination, and ability to participate in care decisions; requirement for written (or electronic) notice upon admission.
Part III – Training Programs for Lactation Support Professionals
- Creates funded initiative to diversify lactation support professionals (lactation consultants, counselors, etc.) through UNC system HBCUs.
- Amount: $3,000,000 (nonrecurring) in FY 2026-2027 to support training infrastructure at Bennett College, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, NC A&T, and NC Central University.
- DHHS duties: Provide technical assistance to develop culturally appropriate content, recruit marginalized populations, bring in diverse teachers/preceptors, and target rural/medically underserved areas.
- Evaluation due by May 1, 2029 detailing:
- Total number of trained lactation professionals by race/ethnicity and work site
- Prenatal/postpartum patient experiences and disparities, including insurance coverage and satisfaction
- Effective date: July 1, 2026.
Part IV – Perinatal Education Grant Program
- Establishes a Perinatal Education Grant Program to fund community-based perinatal education in rural/underserved/low-wealth areas.
- Eligibility: Community-based organizations offering perinatal education aligned with evidence-based practices for Black maternal health outcomes.
- Grants: $10,000 to $50,000 per recipient; reflect statewide distribution.
- Termination: Program expires June 30, 2028.
- Required report by Oct 1, 2029 detailing funds expended, program effectiveness, and future funding recommendations.
- Appropriations: $3,000,000 nonrecurring for 2026-2027, with up to 5% administrative costs.
- Effective date: July 1, 2026.
Part V – MOMni-BUS Initiative
- Creates a MOMni-BUS Initiative within DHHS, Division of Public Health, with $6,500,000 in nonrecurring funds for 2026-2027.
- Allocation:
- $1,500,000 directed grant to March of Dimes NC to support its maternal health work
- $5,000,000 directed grants (competitive) to nonprofit/community/faith-based groups for programs from pregnancy through postpartum, infant health, and parenting supports
- Reporting: By Oct 1, 2028 and Oct 1, 2029, provide details on grantees, activities, funding, and persons served.
- Effective date: July 1, 2026.
Part VI – General Provisions
- Effective date: In general, the act becomes law on passage unless otherwise specified.
Potential Impact
- Enhanced funding and structured grants to community-based, Black-led organizations to reduce MM/SM among Black women.
- Systemic addressing of implicit bias through mandated training for perinatal care providers, with data collection to monitor disparities.
- Expanded lactation support workforce diversity via targeted funding at state HBCUs.
- Increased access to perinatal education and care in rural/underserved areas through grant programs and a dedicated MOMni-BUS initiative.
- Availability of annual/longitudinal reporting to legislative oversight, enabling evaluation of program effectiveness and future policy refinement.
Notes
- The bill contains multiple moving parts with overlapping aims (grant programs, training, patient rights, and bias reduction).
- Funding levels are specific and categorized as recurring or nonrecurring, with explicit administration percentage caps for grant programs.
- Several sections have defined effective dates in 2026-2027, with reports due through 2029.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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