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Bill

HB 4553

Relating to the mandatory reporting of birth outcomes by licensed midwives in the State of Texas.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Claudia Ordaz

Texas bill mandates licensed midwives report birth outcomes to state health authorities, establishing data collection requirements for non-hospital deliveries to improve maternal-neonatal health surveillance.

Reported favorably as substituted
#healthcareproviders(i0387) #health--otherdiseases&medicalconditions(i0383) #licensing&regulation #texasdepartmentof(v8529) #malik'slaw(pk9iu) #midwives&midwifery(s0762) #occupationalregulation--healthoccupations(i0540) #pregnancy&childbirth(s0294) #statehealthservices #departmentof(v0463) #vitalstatistics&records(s2714)
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Bill Summary · HB 4553

Legislative bill overview

HB 4553 requires licensed midwives in Texas to report specific birth outcomes to the state, establishing mandatory reporting standards for their practice. The bill creates accountability mechanisms for midwife-attended births through formalized data collection and submission requirements.

Why is this important

Mandatory reporting from midwives addresses a data gap in Texas's maternal and neonatal health surveillance system, as midwives currently operate without standardized outcome reporting. This information could help identify safety patterns, inform regulatory decisions, and provide public health officials with comprehensive birth outcome data across all delivery settings.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of reporting requirements: Disputes over what specific outcomes must be reported (maternal complications, neonatal deaths, transfers to hospitals, etc.) and the administrative burden this places on midwives
  • Regulatory oversight implications: Concerns that mandatory reporting could increase state scrutiny of midwife-attended births or be used to restrict midwifery practice, versus arguments it ensures patient safety
  • Data privacy and confidentiality: Questions about how reported information will be stored, accessed, and protected, particularly regarding patient identification and competitive disadvantages among practitioners

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

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