Bill
SB 1005
The bill creates a $20M one-year UNC grant program to establish CNM midwifery training with hospital partnerships, aiming to graduate at least 20 CNMs per program by year five.
Date Filed: April 30, 2026
Purpose
- Establish the Midwifery Education Grant Program to expand the number of midwives and midwifery training programs in North Carolina.
- Specifically targets UNC constituent institutions to create eligible midwife training programs (CNM credential) in partnership with in-state hospitals.
Key Provisions
1) Part I – Midwifery Education Grant Program
- Establishment and Scope
- Creates the Midwifery Education Grant Program for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
- Goal: Increase the number of midwives and midwife training programs to support prenatal, birth, and postnatal care statewide.
- Definitions
- Eligible constituent institution: UNC institution with an APRN degree program that does not currently have an eligible midwife training program.
- Eligible midwife training program: Program that grants CNM credentials.
- HBCU: Historically Black college/university or historically minority-serving institution.
- Partner hospital: In-state hospital with an established program allowing CNMs to deliver in the hospital.
- Program: The Midwifery Education Grant Program.
- System Office: UNC System Office.
- Eligibility and Applications
- Any eligible UNC constituent institution may apply to the UNC System Office for a grant.
- Application timeline and guidelines:
- System Office to publish criteria by Sept 30, 2026.
- Applications accepted through December 31, 2026.
- Required application elements include:
- Evidence of partnership with a hospital.
- Proposed program budget.
- Plan to graduate at least 20 CNMs by the fifth year of operation.
- Timeline showing when the program would begin enrolling students (academic year).
- Award Process and Priorities
- Grants: Up to $4,000,000 per eligible institution.
- Awards to be issued by March 15, 2027.
- Priority considerations to promote geographic diversity and to favor:
- Institutions that are HBCUs.
- Institutions near partner hospitals.
- Institutions with a plan to establish the eligible midwife program by no later than the 2029-2030 academic year.
- Use of Funds
- Eligible expenses include:
- Faculty and staff.
- Additional nurse preceptors for the APRN degree program.
- Other expenses necessary to establish the midwife training program.
- Reporting
- Annual reporting to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division, starting October 15, 2027, and continuing until all funds are expended.
- Report contents include:
- Number and amount of grants awarded.
- Identities of awarded institutions.
- Institutions that applied but did not receive grants.
- Estimated timelines for establishing programs due to grants.
- Any other relevant matters as determined by the System Office.
2) Part II – Appropriation
- Funding
- A nonrecurring appropriation of $20,000,000 from the General Fund to the UNC System Office for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
- Purpose: Provide grants to UNC constituent institutions to establish eligible midwifery programs.
- The funds shall not revert at the end of the 2026-2027 fiscal year; they remain available until expended.
3) Part III – Effective Date
- Effective date: July 1, 2026.
Eligible Recipients and Scope
- Eligible institutions: UNC constituent institutions that meet the criteria (APRn program presence, no existing eligible midwife program) and that form partnerships with in-state hospitals.
- Target impact: Increase the number of CNM-trained graduates (minimum target of 20 CNMs per program by year five) and create sustainable midwifery training infrastructure in North Carolina, with emphasis on HBCUs or minority-serving institutions and institutions near partner hospitals.
Potential Impact
- Workforce: Expansion of certified nurse-midwives to improve access to prenatal, birth, and postnatal care across North Carolina.
- Education: Creation of new midwifery training programs within UNC system institutions, requiring faculty, preceptors, and clinical partnerships.
- Geographic and demographic equity: Prioritizes institutions that contribute to statewide geographic diversity and support HBCUs or minority-serving institutions.
- Fiscal: A $20 million one-year allocation to fund multiple institutions’ programs, with ongoing reporting to monitor progress and accountability.
Effective communication note
- The bill, if enacted, would begin implementing in the 2026-2027 fiscal year and funding decisions are expected by March 15, 2027, with program operation potentially starting in the 2027-2028 academic year depending on each institution’s timeline.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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