HB257 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben HarrisonRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Midwifery; provide further for the practice of midwifery and powers of the State Midwifery Board

Summary

HB257 would expand Alabama's midwifery regulation by creating broader board powers, allowing licensed midwives to practice in freestanding birth centers and perform newborn screening tests, and adding new oversight and reporting requirements.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the State Board of Midwifery to accept gifts and grants and to fund itself from its own funds. It allows licensed midwives to provide care in freestanding birth centers and to administer certain newborn screening tests, but prohibits hospital practice and lists specific obstetric procedures they cannot perform. It creates and governs the Board with seven members from specified professional backgrounds, sets terms, meetings, staffing, licensing rules, insurance requirements, fines, and reporting requirements for midwives. It repeals the current requirement that midwifery care be covered or reimbursed and sets an effective date of October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Licensed midwives who may provide care in freestanding birth centers, must meet new licensing and insurance requirements, file annual reports, and follow board rules.
• Pregnant people and newborns seeking midwifery care, who may access services in freestanding birth centers (not in hospitals), must receive disclosures and informed consent, emergency planning, and coordinated referral/transport if needed.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the State Board of Midwifery to accept gifts and grants and to fund its work from its own funds.
• Authorizes licensed midwives to provide midwifery care in freestanding birth centers and to administer certain newborn screening tests.
• Repeals Section 34-19-21, relating to coverage or reimbursement for midwifery care.
• Amends Sections 34-19-12, 34-19-14, and 34-19-16 to redefine the board's powers and midwifery practice.
• Creates a seven-member State Board of Midwifery with specific professional backgrounds and terms; sets meeting requirements and chair qualifications.
• Establishes licensing rules, education requirements, risk assessment standards, professional conduct standards, complaint investigations, and internships; permits board staff and investigative powers.
• Imposes minimum professional liability insurance for licensed midwives: $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate.
• Prohibits licensed midwives from certain obstetric procedures outside their scope (e.g., epidurals, narcotics, forceps/vacuum, cesarean, pharmacological induction).
• Prohibits licensed midwives from delivering in hospitals; permits care in client-chosen settings such as freestanding birth centers.
• Requires client disclosures, informed consent, emergency care plans, transport/referral plans, birth certificate filing, and newborn screening linkage.
• Mandates annual data reporting by licensed midwives on births, transfers, and outcomes; data may be public.
• Gives the board authority to hire staff and enforce provisions, including administrative fines up to $1,000 per violation.
• Subjects the board to the Sunset Law with a termination date and periodic continuation requirement; effective date is October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health