Bill
HB 1195
HB 1195 aims to reduce maternal mortality and disparities by funding community programs, mandating implicit bias training for perinatal providers, and expanding lactation and perin
HB 1195 — MOMnibus 3.5 (North Carolina, 2025 Session)
Overview
- Purpose: Enact the North Carolina MOMnibus Act to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, address implicit bias in perinatal care, expand training and support for lactation and perinatal educators, and widen access to maternal and infant health services through grant programs and targeted initiatives.
Key Provisions by Part
PART I. SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
- Establishes the Maternal Care Access Grant Program through DHHS to award competitive grants (mandatory eligible entity criteria include community-based organizations offering evidence-based programs to improve maternal health outcomes for Black women).
- Outreach and assistance: Starting July 1, 2026, the Department must promote grants and assist applicants, with preference to:
- Communities with high adverse maternal health outcomes and disparities
- Black women-led organizations
- Programs aligned with evidence-based practices for Black women
- Grant awards: Grants range from $10,000 to $50,000 per recipient; favorable considerations for programs designed for Black women and addressing social determinants of health (e.g., housing, transportation, nutrition, lactation support, childcare, safety-net coordination, employment barriers).
- Technical assistance: The Department will offer capacity-building, data collection/evaluation, and sustainability planning support.
- Reporting: DHHS must file annual reports (starting Oct 1, 2027 and Oct 1, 2028) detailing funds spent, outreach effectiveness, program outcomes, and recommendations for diversification and future funding.
Appropriations and Implementation
- General Fund appropriation: $5,000,000 recurring (starting 2026‑2027) to DHHS Division of Public Health.
- $93,513 to hire a permanent Public Health Program Coordinator IV for grant administration and reporting.
- $4,906,487 to fund the Maternal Care Access Grant Program (with up to 1% for admin costs).
- Effective date: July 1, 2026.
PART II. IMPLICIT BIAS IN HEALTH CARE
- New statutory sections to establish an implicit bias training program for perinatal health care professionals (G.S. 130A-33.62 and 130A-33.63).
- Training program requirements:
- Collaboration with Black-led community organizations and a historically Black college/university.
- Content covers unconscious biases, barriers to inclusion, corrective measures, cultural identity, effective cross-identity communication, power dynamics, trauma-informed care, health inequities, and community perspectives.
- Training deadlines:
- Those with current licenses as of Dec 31, 2026 must complete by Dec 31, 2027.
- New licensees must complete within one year of licensure.
- Licensing authorities cannot renew licenses without proof of completion within the 24 months prior to renewal.
- Outreach and data collection: Encourage broad adoption and collect data on causes of maternal mortality and race/ethnicity/SES/geography in maternal outcomes.
- Funding: $2,500,000 recurring (from General Fund, starting 2026‑2027) to implement the implicit bias program.
- Effective dates: Oct 1, 2026 (training program requirements) and Jul 1, 2026 (budget authority).
PART III. TRAINING FOR LACTATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS
- Establishes funding and program development for lactation support training at HBCUs.
- Funding: $3,000,000 nonrecurring (2026‑2027) allocated equally to Bennett College, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina A&T, and NC Central University to administer state-funded training for lactation support professionals.
- DHHS duties: Provide technical assistance on culturally appropriate content, recruitment of marginalized groups, and rural/medically underserved area placement.
- Evaluation: By May 1, 2029, report on program benefits, including workforce diversity, patient experiences, insurance coverage, disparities in breastfeeding outcomes, and patient satisfaction.
- Effective date: July 1, 2026.
PART IV. PERINATAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM
- Creates a Perinatal Education Grant Program to fund rural/underserved/low-wealth areas with perinatal education offerings aligned with evidence-based practices for Black maternal health outcomes.
- Outreach and grant size: Similar eligibility and grant ranges ($10,000–$50,000).
- Termination: Program expires June 30, 2028.
- Reporting and funding: By Oct 1, 2029, report on expenditures, effectiveness, and future funding recommendations. $3,000,000 nonrecurring (2026‑2027) with up to 5% admin use.
- Effective date: July 1, 2026.
PART V. MOMNI-BUS INITIATIVE
- Creates a Momni-Bus initiative with $6,500,000 in nonrecurring funds for 2026‑2027 to expand access to maternal/infant health care and parenting programs in areas with limited or no maternity care.
- Funding allocations:
- $1,500,000 directed grant to March of Dimes (NC branch) to support its maternal health and equity work.
- $5,000,000 for directed, competitive grants to nonprofit, community-based, and faith-based organizations offering evidence-based pregnancy, postpartum, infant health, and parenting programs.
- Reporting: By Oct 1, 2028 and Oct 1, 2029, report grantee activities, funding amounts, and service reach.
PART VI. EFFECTIVE DATE
- Most provisions are effective upon enactment; specific sections have dates noted above (2026–2029 reporting deadlines and program start dates).
Who/What is Affected
- Pregnant, postpartum, and infant families in North Carolina, with emphasis on Black women and communities experiencing disparities.
- Community-based organizations, faith-based groups, and HBCUs that provide maternal health, lactation support, perinatal education, and related services.
- Perinatal care facilities and health care professionals in North Carolina.
- DHHS, Division of Public Health, and partner institutions (HBUs, community organizations).
Timeline Highlights
- July 1, 2026: Beginning of outreach, grant eligibility, and program implementation for several parts.
- Oct 1, 2027 and Oct 1, 2028: Required reporting on Part I grant program outcomes and outreach effectiveness.
- Dec 31, 2027/2028: Implicit bias training completion deadlines for existing/new licensees, with renewal linkage.
- May 1, 2029: Evaluation report for lactation training programs at state-funded HBCUs.
- Oct 1, 2029 and ongoing: Perinatal Education and Momni-Bus program reporting.
- 2026–2027: Initial funding year for multiple parts; continued appropriations through 2028–2029 in various sections.
Bottom-line
HB 1195 aims to reduce maternal mortality and disparities through targeted funding of community-based programs, mandated implicit bias training for perinatal care providers, expanded lactation education via HBCUs, perinatal education in underserved areas, and a Momni-Bus initiative to extend access to care and support services. It couples program grants with reporting requirements to assess effectiveness and guide future funding.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
