North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H725 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 725
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH40325-MGa-112
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: MOMnibus 3.0. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives von Haefen, Hawkins, Alston, and Johnson-Hostler (Primary
9		-	Sponsors).
10		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
11		-	Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
12		-	April 3, 2025
13		-	H725 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative von Haefen.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH40325 -MGa-112
14	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
15	14		AN ACT TO ENACT THE NORTH CAROLINA MOMNIBUS ACT. 2
16	15		Whereas, every person should be entitled to dignity and respect during and after 3
17	16		pregnancy and childbirth, and patients should receive the best care possible regardless of age, 4
18	17		race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, 5
19	18		marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, 6
20	19		citizenship, nationality, immigration status, primary language, or language proficiency; and 7
21	20		Whereas, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed 8
22	21		world, where about 700 women die each year from childbirth and another 50,000 suffer from 9
23	22		severe complications; and 10
24	23		Whereas, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that the 11
25	24		majority of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable; and 12
26	25		Whereas, pregnancy-related deaths among black birthing people are also more likely 13
27	26		to be miscoded; and 14
28	27		Whereas, access to prenatal care, socioeconomic status, and general physical health 15
29	28		do not fully explain the disparity seen in maternal mortality and morbidity rates among black 16
30	29		individuals, and there is a growing body of evidence that black people are often treated unfairly 17
31	30		and unequally in the health care system; and 18
32	31		Whereas, implicit bias is a key driver of health disparities in communities of color; 19
33	32		and 20
34	33		Whereas, health care providers in North Carolina are not required to undergo any 21
35	34		implicit bias testing or training; and 22
36	35		Whereas, currently there does not exist any system to track the number of incidents 23
37	36		where implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes led to negative birth and maternal health 24
38	37		outcomes; and 25
39	38		Whereas, it is in the interest of this State to reduce the effects of implicit bias in 26
40	39		pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care so that all people are treated with dignity and respect 27
41	40		by their health care providers; Now, therefore, 28
42	41		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 29
43	42		30
44	43		PART I. SUPPORTING COMMUNITY -BASED ORGANIZATIONS 31
45	44		32
46	45		ESTABLISHMENT OF MATERNAL CARE ACCESS GRANT PROGRAM 33
47		-	SECTION 1.1.(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 House Bill 725-First Edition
49		-	(1) Culturally respectful congruent. – Sensitive to and respectful of the preferred 1
50		-	cultural values, beliefs, world view, and practices of the patient, and aware 2
51		-	that cultural differences between patients and health care providers or other 3
52		-	service providers must be proactively addressed to ensure that patients receive 4
53		-	equitable, high-quality services that meet their needs. 5
54		-	(2) Department. – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human 6
55		-	Services. 7
56		-	(3) Postpartum. – The one-year period beginning on the last day of a woman's 8
57		-	pregnancy. 9
58		-	SECTION 1.1.(b) Establishment of Grant Program. – The Department shall 10
59		-	establish and administer a Maternal Care Access Grant Program to award competitive grants to 11
60		-	eligible entities to establish or expand programs for the prevention of maternal mortality and 12
61		-	severe maternal morbidity among black women. The Department shall establish eligibility 13
62		-	requirements for program participation which shall, at a minimum, require that applicants be 14
63		-	community-based organizations offering programs and resources aligned with evidence-based 15
64		-	practices for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 16
65		-	SECTION 1.1.(c) Outreach and Application Assistance. – Beginning July 1, 2025, 17
66		-	the Department shall (i) conduct outreach to encourage eligible applicants to apply for grants 18
67		-	under this program and (ii) provide application assistance to eligible applicants on best practices 19
68		-	for applying for grants under this program. In conducting the outreach required by this section, 20
69		-	the Department shall give special consideration to eligible applicants that meet the following 21
70		-	criteria: 22
71		-	(1) Are based in, and provide support for, communities with high rates of adverse 23
72		-	maternal health outcomes and significant racial and ethnic disparities in 24
73		-	maternal health outcomes. 25
74		-	(2) Are led by black women. 26
75		-	(3) Offer programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices 27
76		-	for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 28
77		-	SECTION 1.1.(d) Grant Awards. – In awarding grants under this section, the 29
78		-	Department shall, to the extent possible, award grants to recipients to reflect different areas of 30
79		-	the State. The Department shall not award a single grant for less than ten thousand dollars 31
80		-	($10,000) or more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per grant recipient. In selecting grant 32
81		-	recipients, the Department shall give special consideration to eligible applicants that meet all of 33
82		-	the following criteria: 34
83		-	(1) Meet all of the criteria specified in subdivisions (1) through (3) of subsection 35
84		-	(c) of this section. 36
85		-	(2) Offer programs and resources designed in consultation with and intended for 37
86		-	black women. 38
87		-	(3) Offer programs and resources in the communities in which they are located 39
88		-	that include any of the following activities: 40
89		-	a. Promoting maternal mental health and maternal substance use disorder 41
90		-	treatments that are aligned with evidence-based practices for 42
91		-	improving maternal mental health outcomes for black women. 43
92		-	b. Addressing social determinants of health for women in the prenatal 44
93		-	and postpartum periods, including, but not limited to, any of the 45
94		-	following: 46
95		-	1. Inadequate housing. 47
96		-	2. Transportation barriers. 48
97		-	3. Poor nutrition and a lack of access to healthy foods. 49
98		-	4. Need for lactation support. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
99		-	House Bill 725-First Edition Page 3
100		-	5. Need for lead abatement and other efforts to improve air and 1
101		-	water quality. 2
102		-	6. Lack of access to child care. 3
103		-	7. Need for baby supplies such as diapers, formula, clothing, baby 4
104		-	and child equipment, and safe car seat installation. 5
105		-	8. Need for wellness and stress management programs. 6
106		-	9. Education about maternal health and well-being. 7
107		-	10. Need for coordination across safety net and social support 8
108		-	services and programs. 9
109		-	11. Barriers to employment. 10
110		-	c. Promoting evidence-based health literacy and pregnancy, childbirth, 11
111		-	and parenting education for women in the prenatal and postpartum 12
112		-	periods, including group-based programs and peer support groups. 13
113		-	d. Providing individually tailored support from doulas and other perinatal 14
114		-	health workers to women from pregnancy through the postpartum 15
115		-	period. 16
116		-	e. Providing culturally respectful congruent training to perinatal health 17
117		-	workers such as doulas, community health workers, peer supporters, 18
118		-	certified lactation consultants, nutritionists and dietitians, social 19
119		-	workers, home visitors, and navigators. 20
120		-	f. Conducting or supporting research on issues affecting black maternal 21
121		-	health. 22
122		-	g. Developing other programs and resources that address 23
123		-	community-specific needs for women in the prenatal and postpartum 24
124		-	periods and are aligned with evidence-based practices for improving 25
125		-	maternal health outcomes for black women. 26
126		-	SECTION 1.1.(e) Technical Assistance to Grant Recipients. – The Department shall 27
127		-	provide technical assistance to grant recipients regarding all of the following: 28
128		-	(1) Capacity building to establish or expand programs to prevent adverse maternal 29
129		-	health outcomes among black women. 30
130		-	(2) Best practices in data collection, measurement, evaluation, and reporting. 31
131		-	(3) Planning centered around sustaining programs implemented with grant funds 32
132		-	to prevent maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among black 33
133		-	women when the grant funds have been expended. 34
134		-	SECTION 1.1.(f) Reports. – The Department shall submit the following reports on 35
135		-	the grant program authorized by this section to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on 36
136		-	Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division: 37
137		-	(1) A report by October 1, 2026, that includes at least all of the following 38
138		-	components: 39
139		-	a. A detailed report on funds expended for the program for the 2025-2026 40
140		-	fiscal year. 41
141		-	b. An assessment of the effectiveness of outreach efforts by the 42
142		-	Department during the application process in diversifying the pool of 43
143		-	grant recipients. 44
144		-	c. Recommendations for future outreach efforts to diversify the pool of 45
145		-	grant recipients for this program and other related grant programs, as 46
146		-	well as for funding opportunities related to the social determinants of 47
147		-	maternal health. 48
148		-	(2) A report by October 1, 2027, that includes at least all of the following 49
149		-	components: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
150		-	Page 4 House Bill 725-First Edition
151		-	a. A detailed report on funds expended for the program for the 2026-2027 1
152		-	fiscal year. 2
153		-	b. An assessment of the effectiveness of programs funded by grants 3
154		-	awarded under this section in improving maternal health outcomes for 4
155		-	black women. 5
156		-	c. Recommendations for future grant programs to be administered by the 6
157		-	Department and for future funding opportunities for community-based 7
158		-	organizations to improve maternal health outcomes for black women 8
159		-	through programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based 9
160		-	practices for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 10
161		-	11
162		-	APPROPRIATIONS TO IMPLEMENT PART I 12
163		-	SECTION 1.2.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department 13
164		-	of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of five million dollars 14
165		-	($5,000,000) in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to be used and 15
166		-	allocated as follows: 16
167		-	(1) Ninety-three thousand five hundred thirteen dollars ($93,513) in recurring 17
168		-	funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to establish a full-time, 18
169		-	permanent Public Health Program Coordinator IV position within the 19
170		-	Department of Health and Human Services dedicated to performing the 20
171		-	following duties: 21
172		-	a. Providing application assistance to Maternal Care Access Grant 22
173		-	Program applicants. 23
174		-	b. Providing technical assistance to Maternal Care Access Grant Program 24
175		-	recipients. 25
176		-	c. Preparing the reports due under Section 1.1(f) of this Part. 26
177		-	(2) Four million nine hundred six thousand four hundred eighty-seven dollars 27
178		-	($4,906,487) in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal 28
179		-	biennium to be allocated to the Maternal Care Access Grant Program 29
180		-	authorized by Section 1.1 of this Part. The Department of Health and Human 30
181		-	Services may use up to one percent (1%) of these funds for administrative 31
182		-	purposes related to the grant program. The balance of these funds shall be used 32
183		-	to operate the grant program. 33
184		-	SECTION 1.2.(b) The Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to 34
185		-	hire one full-time, permanent Public Health Program Coordinator IV position to perform the 35
186		-	duties described in subsection (a) of this section. 36
187		-	SECTION 1.3. This Part becomes effective July 1, 2025. 37
188		-	38
189		-	PART II. IMPLICIT BIAS IN HEALTH CARE 39
190		-	SECTION 2.1.(a) Part 5 of Article 1B of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is 40
191		-	amended by adding two new sections to read: 41
192		-	"§ 130A-33.62. Department to establish implicit bias training program for health care 42
193		-	professionals engaged in perinatal care. 43
194		-	(a) The following definitions apply in this section: 44
195		-	(1) Health care professional. – A licensed physician or other health care provider 45
196		-	licensed, registered, accredited, or certified to perform perinatal care and 46
197		-	regulated under the authority of a health care professional licensing authority. 47
198		-	(2) Health care professional licensing authority. – The Department of Health and 48
199		-	Human Services or an agency, board, council, or committee with the authority 49
200		-	to impose training or education requirements or licensure fees as a condition 50
201		-	of practicing in this State as a health care professional. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
202		-	House Bill 725-First Edition Page 5
203		-	(3) Implicit bias. – A bias in judgment or behavior that results from subtle 1
204		-	cognitive processes, including implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes, that 2
205		-	often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional 3
206		-	control. 4
207		-	(4) Implicit prejudice. – Prejudicial negative feelings or beliefs about a group that 5
208		-	a person holds without being aware of them. 6
209		-	(5) Implicit stereotypes. – The unconscious attributions of particular qualities to 7
210		-	a member of a certain social group that are influenced by experience and based 8
211		-	on learned associations between various qualities and social categories, 9
212		-	including race and gender. 10
213		-	(6) Perinatal care. – The provision of care during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and 11
214		-	postpartum and neonatal periods. 12
215		-	(7) Perinatal facility. – A hospital, clinic, or birthing center that provides perinatal 13
216		-	care in this State. 14
217		-	(b) The Department, in collaboration with (i) community-based organizations led by 15
218		-	black women that serve primarily black birthing people and (ii) a historically black college or 16
219		-	university or other institution that primarily serves minority populations, shall create or identify 17
220		-	an evidence-based implicit bias training program for health care professionals involved in 18
221		-	perinatal care. The implicit bias training program shall include, at a minimum, all of the following 19
222		-	components: 20
223		-	(1) Identification of previous or current unconscious biases and misinformation. 21
224		-	(2) Identification of personal, interpersonal, institutional, structural, and cultural 22
225		-	barriers to inclusion. 23
226		-	(3) Corrective measures to decrease implicit bias at the interpersonal and 24
227		-	institutional levels, including ongoing policies and practices for that purpose. 25
228		-	(4) Information about the effects of implicit bias, including, but not limited to, 26
229		-	ongoing personal effects of racism and the historical and contemporary 27
230		-	exclusion and oppression of minority communities. 28
231		-	(5) Information about cultural identity across racial or ethnic groups. 29
232		-	(6) Information about how to communicate more effectively across identities, 30
233		-	including racial, ethnic, religious, and gender identities. 31
234		-	(7) Information about power dynamics and organizational decision making. 32
235		-	(8) Trauma-informed care best practices and an emphasis on shared decision 33
236		-	making between providers and patients. 34
237		-	(9) Information about health inequities within the perinatal care field, including 35
238		-	information on how implicit bias impacts maternal and infant health 36
239		-	outcomes. 37
240		-	(10) Perspectives of diverse, local constituency groups and experts on particular 38
241		-	racial, identity, cultural, and provider-community relations issues in the 39
242		-	community. 40
243		-	(11) Information about socioeconomic bias. 41
244		-	(12) Information about reproductive justice. 42
245		-	(c) Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 90 or Chapter 93B of the General Statutes, 43
246		-	or any other provision of law to the contrary, all health care professionals are required to complete 44
247		-	the implicit bias training program established under this section as follows: 45
248		-	(1) Health care professionals who hold a current license, registration, 46
249		-	accreditation, or certification on December 31, 2025, shall complete the 47
250		-	training program no later than December 31, 2026. 48
251		-	(2) Health care professionals issued an initial license, registration, accreditation, 49
252		-	or certification on or after January 1, 2026, shall complete the training 50
253		-	program no later than one year after the date of issuance. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
254		-	Page 6 House Bill 725-First Edition
255		-	A health care professional licensing authority shall not renew the license, registration, 1
256		-	accreditation, or certification of a health care professional unless the health care professional 2
257		-	provides proof of completion of the training program established under this section within the 3
258		-	24-month period leading up to the date of the renewal application. 4
259		-	(d) The Department is encouraged to seek opportunities to make the implicit bias training 5
260		-	program established under this section available to all health care professionals and to promote 6
261		-	its use among the following groups: 7
262		-	(1) All maternity care providers and any employees who interact with pregnant 8
263		-	and postpartum individuals in the provider setting, including front desk 9
264		-	employees, sonographers, schedulers, health system-employed lactation 10
265		-	consultants, hospital or health system administrators, security staff, and other 11
266		-	employees. 12
267		-	(2) Undergraduate programs that funnel into health professions schools. 13
268		-	(3) Providers of the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, 14
269		-	and children under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. 15
270		-	(4) Obstetric emergency simulation trainings or related trainings. 16
271		-	(5) Emergency department employees, emergency medical technicians, and other 17
272		-	specialized health care providers who interact with pregnant and postpartum 18
273		-	individuals. 19
274		-	(e) The Department shall collect the following information for the purpose of informing 20
275		-	ongoing improvements to the implicit bias training program: 21
276		-	(1) Data on the causes of maternal mortality. 22
277		-	(2) Rates of maternal mortality, including rates distinguished by age, race, 23
278		-	ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location within this State. 24
279		-	(3) Other factors the Department deems relevant for assessing and improving the 25
280		-	implicit bias training program. 26
281		-	"§ 130A-33.63. Rights of perinatal care patients. 27
282		-	(a) A patient receiving care at a perinatal care facility, defined as a hospital, clinic, or 28
283		-	birthing center that provides perinatal care in this State, has the following rights: 29
284		-	(1) To be informed of continuing health care requirements following discharge. 30
285		-	(2) To be informed that, if the patient so authorizes, and to the extent permitted 31
286		-	by law, the hospital or health care facility may provide to a friend or family 32
287		-	member information about the patient's continuing health care requirements 33
288		-	following discharge. 34
289		-	(3) To actively participate in decisions regarding the patient's medical care and 35
290		-	the right to refuse treatment. 36
291		-	(4) To receive appropriate pain assessment and treatment. 37
292		-	(5) To receive care and treatment free from discrimination on the basis of age, 38
293		-	race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic 39
294		-	information, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual 40
295		-	orientation, socioeconomic status, citizenship, nationality, immigration status, 41
296		-	primary language, or language proficiency. 42
297		-	(6) To receive information on how to file a complaint with the Division of Health 43
298		-	Service Regulation or the Human Rights Commission or both about any 44
299		-	violation of these rights. 45
300		-	(b) Each perinatal care facility shall provide to each perinatal care patient upon admission 46
301		-	to the facility, or as soon as reasonably practical following admission to the facility, a written 47
302		-	copy of the rights enumerated in subsection (a) of this section. The facility may provide this 48
303		-	information to the patient by electronic means, and it may be provided with other notices 49
304		-	regarding patient rights." 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
305		-	House Bill 725-First Edition Page 7
306		-	SECTION 2.1.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department 1
307		-	of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of two million five hundred 2
308		-	thousand dollars ($2,500,000) in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium 3
309		-	to establish and administer the implicit bias training program for health care professionals 4
310		-	engaged in perinatal care authorized by G.S. 130A-33.62, as enacted by this act. 5
311		-	SECTION 2.2. Section 2.1(a) of this Part becomes effective October 1, 2025. 6
312		-	Section 2.1(b) of this Part becomes effective July 1, 2025. 7
313		-	8
314		-	PART III. SUPPORTING AND DIVERSIFYING LA CTATION CONSULTANT 9
315		-	TRAINING PROGRAMS 10
316		-	SECTION 3.1.(a) The following definitions apply in this section: 11
317		-	(1) Historically Black Colleges and Universities or HBCUs. – Institutions of 12
318		-	higher education that were founded to educate black citizens who were 13
319		-	historically restricted from attending predominantly white institutions of 14
320		-	higher education. 15
321		-	(2) Lactation consultants. – Educators or counselors trained in breast feeding or 16
322		-	chest feeding practices, lactation care, and lactation services. 17
323		-	(3) Lactation services. – The clinical application of scientific principles and a 18
324		-	multidisciplinary body of evidence for evaluation, problem identification, 19
325		-	treatment, education, and consultation to childbearing families regarding 20
326		-	lactation care and services. 21
327		-	(4) Maternity care services. – Health care related to an individual's pregnancy, 22
328		-	childbirth, or postpartum recovery. 23
329		-	(5) Preceptor. – A person who is a certified lactation consultant and meets the 24
330		-	requirements of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners to 25
331		-	supervise lactation consultants-in-training during the training period. 26
332		-	SECTION 3.1.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of 27
333		-	Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) in 28
334		-	nonrecurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium for the purposes of recruiting, 29
335		-	training, and retaining a diverse workforce of lactation consultants in North Carolina by 30
336		-	supporting the infrastructure and sustainability of lactation consultant training programs at 31
337		-	Historically Black Colleges and Universities located within the State. These funds shall be 32
338		-	distributed equally among Bennett College, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith 33
339		-	University, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, and North Carolina 34
340		-	Central University to cover costs incurred by each university for administering a lactation 35
341		-	training program, including, but not limited to: 36
342		-	(1) Leasing or other costs for teaching facilities or approved clinical training sites. 37
343		-	(2) Student aid or scholarships. 38
344		-	(3) Compensation for lactation consultant training program teachers and 39
345		-	preceptors. 40
346		-	SECTION 3.1.(c) The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide 41
347		-	technical assistance to Bennett College, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith 42
348		-	University, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, and North Carolina 43
349		-	Central University with respect to the following: 44
350		-	(1) Developing culturally appropriate training content for the lactation consultant 45
351		-	training programs funded by State appropriations. 46
352		-	(2) Recruiting persons from historically marginalized populations to enroll in the 47
353		-	lactation consultant training programs offered at these universities. 48
354		-	(3) Recruiting historically underutilized providers to serve as teachers and 49
355		-	preceptors in the lactation consultant training programs offered at these 50
356		-	universities. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
357		-	Page 8 House Bill 725-First Edition
358		-	(4) Identifying rural and medically underserved areas of the State experiencing a 1
359		-	shortage of lactation consultants in order to recruit program graduates to work 2
360		-	in these areas. 3
361		-	SECTION 3.1.(d) By May 1, 2028, the Department of Health and Human Services 4
362		-	shall evaluate and submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and 5
363		-	Human Services and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the benefits 6
364		-	received by the State as a result of funding the lactation consultant training programs at North 7
365		-	Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and Johnson C. Smith University. The report 8
366		-	shall include at least all of the following information and recommendations: 9
367		-	(1) The total number of lactation consultants who received training at one of the 10
368		-	State-funded HBCU lactation programs, broken down by (i) race and ethnicity 11
369		-	and (ii) chosen work site, such as hospital, provider office, or 12
370		-	community-based organization. 13
371		-	(2) A review of the prenatal and postpartum experiences of patients who received 14
372		-	lactation consultant services from a health care professional who graduated 15
373		-	from one of the State-funded HBCU lactation consultant programs. The 16
374		-	review shall address patients' experiences relative to the following: 17
375		-	a. Health insurance coverage for maternity care services, including 18
376		-	telehealth lactation consultant services. 19
377		-	b. Contributing factors to population-based disparities in breast feeding 20
378		-	and chest feeding outcomes, including bias and discrimination toward 21
379		-	patients who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups. 22
380		-	c. Patient satisfaction with the services received from these lactation 23
381		-	consultants. 24
382		-	d. Breast feeding or chest feeding initiation and duration rates of patients 25
383		-	who received services from these lactation consultants. 26
384		-	SECTION 3.2. This Part becomes effective July 1, 2025. 27
385		-	28
386		-	PART IV. PERINATAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGR AM 29
387		-	SECTION 4.1.(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 30
388		-	(1) Department. – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human 31
389		-	Services. 32
390		-	(2) Perinatal education program. – A program that operates for the primary 33
391		-	purpose of educating pregnant women and their families about healthy 34
392		-	pregnancy, preparation for labor and birth, breast feeding, newborn care, or 35
393		-	any combination of these. 36
394		-	SECTION 4.1.(b) Establishment of Grant Program. – The Department shall 37
395		-	establish and administer a Perinatal Education Grant Program to award competitive grants to 38
396		-	eligible entities to establish or expand perinatal education programs in rural, underserved, or 39
397		-	low-wealth areas of the State. The Department shall establish eligibility requirements for 40
398		-	program participation which shall, at a minimum, require that applicants be community-based 41
399		-	organizations that offer perinatal education and resources aligned with evidence-based practices 42
400		-	for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 43
401		-	SECTION 4.1.(c) Outreach and Application Assistance. – Beginning September 1, 44
402		-	2025, the Department shall (i) conduct outreach to encourage eligible applicants to apply for 45
403		-	grants under this program and (ii) provide application assistance to eligible applicants on best 46
404		-	practices for applying for grants under this program. In conducting the outreach required by this 47
405		-	section, the Department shall give special consideration to eligible applicants that meet the 48
406		-	following criteria: 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
407		-	House Bill 725-First Edition Page 9
408		-	(1) Are based in, and provide support for, communities with high rates of adverse 1
409		-	maternal health outcomes and significant racial and ethnic disparities in 2
410		-	maternal health outcomes. 3
411		-	(2) Are led by black women. 4
412		-	(3) Offer programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices 5
413		-	for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 6
414		-	SECTION 4.1.(d) Grant Awards. – In awarding grants under this section, to the 7
415		-	extent possible, the grant recipients shall reflect different areas of the State. The Department shall 8
416		-	not award a single grant for less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more than fifty thousand 9
417		-	dollars ($50,000) per grant recipient. 10
418		-	SECTION 4.1.(e) Termination of Grant Program. – The Perinatal Grant Program 11
419		-	authorized by this section expires on June 30, 2027. 12
420		-	SECTION 4.1.(f) Report. – By October 1, 2028, the Department shall submit a report 13
421		-	to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal 14
422		-	Research Division that includes at least all of the following components: 15
423		-	(1) A detailed report on funds expended for the program for the 2025-2026 fiscal 16
424		-	year. 17
425		-	(2) An assessment of the effectiveness of programs funded by grants awarded 18
426		-	under this section in improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 19
427		-	(3) Recommendations for future grant programs to be administered by the 20
428		-	Department and for future funding opportunities for community-based 21
429		-	organizations to improve maternal health outcomes for black women through 22
430		-	programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices for 23
431		-	improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 24
432		-	SECTION 4.1.(g) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department 25
433		-	of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of three million dollars 26
434		-	($3,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to fund the 27
435		-	Perinatal Education Grant Program authorized by this section. Each fiscal year, the Department 28
436		-	of Health and Human Services may use up to five percent (5%) of the funds allocated for this 29
437		-	grant program for administrative purposes related to establishment and administration of the 30
438		-	Perinatal Education Grant Program. 31
439		-	SECTION 4.2. This Part becomes effective July 1, 2025. 32
440		-	33
441		-	PART V. MOMNI-BUS INITIATIVE 34
442		-	SECTION 5.1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 35
443		-	Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health (DPH), the sum of six million five 36
444		-	hundred thousand dollars ($6,500,000) for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to create 37
445		-	a Momni-Bus Initiative. The purpose of the Momni-Bus Initiative is to fund efforts to expand 38
446		-	access to maternal and infant health care and parenting programs, supports, and services to 39
447		-	families residing in geographic areas of the State where there is limited or no access to maternity 40
448		-	care services, including obstetric providers, a hospital or birth center, prenatal care, or postpartum 41
449		-	care. As part of this initiative, the Department shall allocate and use the funds appropriated by 42
450		-	this section as follows: 43
451		-	(1) One million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) to provide a directed 44
452		-	grant to the March of Dimes, Inc., a nonprofit corporation in North Carolina, 45
453		-	to support its work toward ending preventable maternal health risks and 46
454		-	deaths, ending preventable preterm birth and infant death, and closing the 47
455		-	health equity gap. 48
456		-	(2) Five million dollars ($5,000,000) to award directed grants on a competitive 49
457		-	basis to nonprofit, community-based, and faith-based organizations that offer 50
458		-	programs, supports, and services aligned with evidence-based practices for a 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
459		-	Page 10 House Bill 725-First Edition
460		-	healthy pregnancy through the postpartum period, infant health and care, and 1
461		-	parenting programs, supports, and services. The DPH shall establish an 2
462		-	application process and eligibility criteria for awarding the grants authorized 3
463		-	under this subdivision. By October 1, 2027, and October 1, 2028, the DPH 4
464		-	shall submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health 5
465		-	and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division on grants awarded 6
466		-	under this subdivision. The report shall include at least all of the following: 7
467		-	a. The identity and a brief description of the community health activities 8
468		-	performed by each grantee. 9
469		-	b. The amount of funding awarded to each grantee. 10
470		-	c. The number of persons served by each grantee. 11
471		-	SECTION 5.2. This Part becomes effective July 1, 2025. 12
472		-	13
473		-	PART VI. EFFECTIVE DATE 14
474		-	SECTION 6.1. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 15
475		-	law. 16
	46	+	SECTION 1.1.(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 34
	47	+	(1) Culturally respectful congruent. – Sensitive to and respectful of the preferred 35
	48	+	cultural values, beliefs, world view, and practices of the patient, and aware 36
	49	+	H.B. 725
	50	+	Apr 2, 2025
	51	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRH40325-MGa-112
	53	+	that cultural differences between patients and health care providers or other 1
	54	+	service providers must be proactively addressed to ensure that patients receive 2
	55	+	equitable, high-quality services that meet their needs. 3
	56	+	(2) Department. – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human 4
	57	+	Services. 5
	58	+	(3) Postpartum. – The one-year period beginning on the last day of a woman's 6
	59	+	pregnancy. 7
	60	+	SECTION 1.1.(b) Establishment of Grant Program. – The Department shall 8
	61	+	establish and administer a Maternal Care Access Grant Program to award competitive grants to 9
	62	+	eligible entities to establish or expand programs for the prevention of maternal mortality and 10
	63	+	severe maternal morbidity among black women. The Department shall establish eligibility 11
	64	+	requirements for program participation which shall, at a minimum, require that applicants be 12
	65	+	community-based organizations offering programs and resources aligned with evidence-based 13
	66	+	practices for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 14
	67	+	SECTION 1.1.(c) Outreach and Application Assistance. – Beginning July 1, 2025, 15
	68	+	the Department shall (i) conduct outreach to encourage eligible applicants to apply for grants 16
	69	+	under this program and (ii) provide application assistance to eligible applicants on best practices 17
	70	+	for applying for grants under this program. In conducting the outreach required by this section, 18
	71	+	the Department shall give special consideration to eligible applicants that meet the following 19
	72	+	criteria: 20
	73	+	(1) Are based in, and provide support for, communities with high rates of adverse 21
	74	+	maternal health outcomes and significant racial and ethnic disparities in 22
	75	+	maternal health outcomes. 23
	76	+	(2) Are led by black women. 24
	77	+	(3) Offer programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices 25
	78	+	for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 26
	79	+	SECTION 1.1.(d) Grant Awards. – In awarding grants under this section, the 27
	80	+	Department shall, to the extent possible, award grants to recipients to reflect different areas of 28
	81	+	the State. The Department shall not award a single grant for less than ten thousand dollars 29
	82	+	($10,000) or more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per grant recipient. In selecting grant 30
	83	+	recipients, the Department shall give special consideration to eligible applicants that meet all of 31
	84	+	the following criteria: 32
	85	+	(1) Meet all of the criteria specified in subdivisions (1) through (3) of subsection 33
	86	+	(c) of this section. 34
	87	+	(2) Offer programs and resources designed in consultation with and intended for 35
	88	+	black women. 36
	89	+	(3) Offer programs and resources in the communities in which they are located 37
	90	+	that include any of the following activities: 38
	91	+	a. Promoting maternal mental health and maternal substance use disorder 39
	92	+	treatments that are aligned with evidence-based practices for 40
	93	+	improving maternal mental health outcomes for black women. 41
	94	+	b. Addressing social determinants of health for women in the prenatal 42
	95	+	and postpartum periods, including, but not limited to, any of the 43
	96	+	following: 44
	97	+	1. Inadequate housing. 45
	98	+	2. Transportation barriers. 46
	99	+	3. Poor nutrition and a lack of access to healthy foods. 47
	100	+	4. Need for lactation support. 48
	101	+	5. Need for lead abatement and other efforts to improve air and 49
	102	+	water quality. 50
	103	+	6. Lack of access to child care. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	104	+	DRH40325-MGa-112 Page 3
	105	+	7. Need for baby supplies such as diapers, formula, clothing, baby 1
	106	+	and child equipment, and safe car seat installation. 2
	107	+	8. Need for wellness and stress management programs. 3
	108	+	9. Education about maternal health and well-being. 4
	109	+	10. Need for coordination across safety net and social support 5
	110	+	services and programs. 6
	111	+	11. Barriers to employment. 7
	112	+	c. Promoting evidence-based health literacy and pregnancy, childbirth, 8
	113	+	and parenting education for women in the prenatal and postpartum 9
	114	+	periods, including group-based programs and peer support groups. 10
	115	+	d. Providing individually tailored support from doulas and other perinatal 11
	116	+	health workers to women from pregnancy through the postpartum 12
	117	+	period. 13
	118	+	e. Providing culturally respectful congruent training to perinatal health 14
	119	+	workers such as doulas, community health workers, peer supporters, 15
	120	+	certified lactation consultants, nutritionists and dietitians, social 16
	121	+	workers, home visitors, and navigators. 17
	122	+	f. Conducting or supporting research on issues affecting black maternal 18
	123	+	health. 19
	124	+	g. Developing other programs and resources that address 20
	125	+	community-specific needs for women in the prenatal and postpartum 21
	126	+	periods and are aligned with evidence-based practices for improving 22
	127	+	maternal health outcomes for black women. 23
	128	+	SECTION 1.1.(e) Technical Assistance to Grant Recipients. – The Department shall 24
	129	+	provide technical assistance to grant recipients regarding all of the following: 25
	130	+	(1) Capacity building to establish or expand programs to prevent adverse maternal 26
	131	+	health outcomes among black women. 27
	132	+	(2) Best practices in data collection, measurement, evaluation, and reporting. 28
	133	+	(3) Planning centered around sustaining programs implemented with grant funds 29
	134	+	to prevent maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among black 30
	135	+	women when the grant funds have been expended. 31
	136	+	SECTION 1.1.(f) Reports. – The Department shall submit the following reports on 32
	137	+	the grant program authorized by this section to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on 33
	138	+	Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division: 34
	139	+	(1) A report by October 1, 2026, that includes at least all of the following 35
	140	+	components: 36
	141	+	a. A detailed report on funds expended for the program for the 2025-2026 37
	142	+	fiscal year. 38
	143	+	b. An assessment of the effectiveness of outreach efforts by the 39
	144	+	Department during the application process in diversifying the pool of 40
	145	+	grant recipients. 41
	146	+	c. Recommendations for future outreach efforts to diversify the pool of 42
	147	+	grant recipients for this program and other related grant programs, as 43
	148	+	well as for funding opportunities related to the social determinants of 44
	149	+	maternal health. 45
	150	+	(2) A report by October 1, 2027, that includes at least all of the following 46
	151	+	components: 47
	152	+	a. A detailed report on funds expended for the program for the 2026-2027 48
	153	+	fiscal year. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	154	+	Page 4 DRH40325-MGa-112
	155	+	b. An assessment of the effectiveness of programs funded by grants 1
	156	+	awarded under this section in improving maternal health outcomes for 2
	157	+	black women. 3
	158	+	c. Recommendations for future grant programs to be administered by the 4
	159	+	Department and for future funding opportunities for community-based 5
	160	+	organizations to improve maternal health outcomes for black women 6
	161	+	through programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based 7
	162	+	practices for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 8
	163	+	9
	164	+	APPROPRIATIONS TO IMPLEMENT PART I 10
	165	+	SECTION 1.2.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department 11
	166	+	of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of five million dollars 12
	167	+	($5,000,000) in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to be used and 13
	168	+	allocated as follows: 14
	169	+	(1) Ninety-three thousand five hundred thirteen dollars ($93,513) in recurring 15
	170	+	funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to establish a full-time, 16
	171	+	permanent Public Health Program Coordinator IV position within the 17
	172	+	Department of Health and Human Services dedicated to performing the 18
	173	+	following duties: 19
	174	+	a. Providing application assistance to Maternal Care Access Grant 20
	175	+	Program applicants. 21
	176	+	b. Providing technical assistance to Maternal Care Access Grant Program 22
	177	+	recipients. 23
	178	+	c. Preparing the reports due under Section 1.1(f) of this Part. 24
	179	+	(2) Four million nine hundred six thousand four hundred eighty-seven dollars 25
	180	+	($4,906,487) in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal 26
	181	+	biennium to be allocated to the Maternal Care Access Grant Program 27
	182	+	authorized by Section 1.1 of this Part. The Department of Health and Human 28
	183	+	Services may use up to one percent (1%) of these funds for administrative 29
	184	+	purposes related to the grant program. The balance of these funds shall be used 30
	185	+	to operate the grant program. 31
	186	+	SECTION 1.2.(b) The Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to 32
	187	+	hire one full-time, permanent Public Health Program Coordinator IV position to perform the 33
	188	+	duties described in subsection (a) of this section. 34
	189	+	SECTION 1.3. This Part becomes effective July 1, 2025. 35
	190	+	36
	191	+	PART II. IMPLICIT BIAS IN HEALTH CARE 37
	192	+	SECTION 2.1.(a) Part 5 of Article 1B of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is 38
	193	+	amended by adding two new sections to read: 39
	194	+	"§ 130A-33.62. Department to establish implicit bias training program for health care 40
	195	+	professionals engaged in perinatal care. 41
	196	+	(a) The following definitions apply in this section: 42
	197	+	(1) Health care professional. – A licensed physician or other health care provider 43
	198	+	licensed, registered, accredited, or certified to perform perinatal care and 44
	199	+	regulated under the authority of a health care professional licensing authority. 45
	200	+	(2) Health care professional licensing authority. – The Department of Health and 46
	201	+	Human Services or an agency, board, council, or committee with the authority 47
	202	+	to impose training or education requirements or licensure fees as a condition 48
	203	+	of practicing in this State as a health care professional. 49
	204	+	(3) Implicit bias. – A bias in judgment or behavior that results from subtle 50
	205	+	cognitive processes, including implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes, that 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	206	+	DRH40325-MGa-112 Page 5
	207	+	often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional 1
	208	+	control. 2
	209	+	(4) Implicit prejudice. – Prejudicial negative feelings or beliefs about a group that 3
	210	+	a person holds without being aware of them. 4
	211	+	(5) Implicit stereotypes. – The unconscious attributions of particular qualities to 5
	212	+	a member of a certain social group that are influenced by experience and based 6
	213	+	on learned associations between various qualities and social categories, 7
	214	+	including race and gender. 8
	215	+	(6) Perinatal care. – The provision of care during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and 9
	216	+	postpartum and neonatal periods. 10
	217	+	(7) Perinatal facility. – A hospital, clinic, or birthing center that provides perinatal 11
	218	+	care in this State. 12
	219	+	(b) The Department, in collaboration with (i) community-based organizations led by 13
	220	+	black women that serve primarily black birthing people and (ii) a historically black college or 14
	221	+	university or other institution that primarily serves minority populations, shall create or identify 15
	222	+	an evidence-based implicit bias training program for health care professionals involved in 16
	223	+	perinatal care. The implicit bias training program shall include, at a minimum, all of the following 17
	224	+	components: 18
	225	+	(1) Identification of previous or current unconscious biases and misinformation. 19
	226	+	(2) Identification of personal, interpersonal, institutional, structural, and cultural 20
	227	+	barriers to inclusion. 21
	228	+	(3) Corrective measures to decrease implicit bias at the interpersonal and 22
	229	+	institutional levels, including ongoing policies and practices for that purpose. 23
	230	+	(4) Information about the effects of implicit bias, including, but not limited to, 24
	231	+	ongoing personal effects of racism and the historical and contemporary 25
	232	+	exclusion and oppression of minority communities. 26
	233	+	(5) Information about cultural identity across racial or ethnic groups. 27
	234	+	(6) Information about how to communicate more effectively across identities, 28
	235	+	including racial, ethnic, religious, and gender identities. 29
	236	+	(7) Information about power dynamics and organizational decision making. 30
	237	+	(8) Trauma-informed care best practices and an emphasis on shared decision 31
	238	+	making between providers and patients. 32
	239	+	(9) Information about health inequities within the perinatal care field, including 33
	240	+	information on how implicit bias impacts maternal and infant health 34
	241	+	outcomes. 35
	242	+	(10) Perspectives of diverse, local constituency groups and experts on particular 36
	243	+	racial, identity, cultural, and provider-community relations issues in the 37
	244	+	community. 38
	245	+	(11) Information about socioeconomic bias. 39
	246	+	(12) Information about reproductive justice. 40
	247	+	(c) Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 90 or Chapter 93B of the General Statutes, 41
	248	+	or any other provision of law to the contrary, all health care professionals are required to complete 42
	249	+	the implicit bias training program established under this section as follows: 43
	250	+	(1) Health care professionals who hold a current license, registration, 44
	251	+	accreditation, or certification on December 31, 2025, shall complete the 45
	252	+	training program no later than December 31, 2026. 46
	253	+	(2) Health care professionals issued an initial license, registration, accreditation, 47
	254	+	or certification on or after January 1, 2026, shall complete the training 48
	255	+	program no later than one year after the date of issuance. 49
	256	+	A health care professional licensing authority shall not renew the license, registration, 50
	257	+	accreditation, or certification of a health care professional unless the health care professional 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	258	+	Page 6 DRH40325-MGa-112
	259	+	provides proof of completion of the training program established under this section within the 1
	260	+	24-month period leading up to the date of the renewal application. 2
	261	+	(d) The Department is encouraged to seek opportunities to make the implicit bias training 3
	262	+	program established under this section available to all health care professionals and to promote 4
	263	+	its use among the following groups: 5
	264	+	(1) All maternity care providers and any employees who interact with pregnant 6
	265	+	and postpartum individuals in the provider setting, including front desk 7
	266	+	employees, sonographers, schedulers, health system-employed lactation 8
	267	+	consultants, hospital or health system administrators, security staff, and other 9
	268	+	employees. 10
	269	+	(2) Undergraduate programs that funnel into health professions schools. 11
	270	+	(3) Providers of the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, 12
	271	+	and children under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. 13
	272	+	(4) Obstetric emergency simulation trainings or related trainings. 14
	273	+	(5) Emergency department employees, emergency medical technicians, and other 15
	274	+	specialized health care providers who interact with pregnant and postpartum 16
	275	+	individuals. 17
	276	+	(e) The Department shall collect the following information for the purpose of informing 18
	277	+	ongoing improvements to the implicit bias training program: 19
	278	+	(1) Data on the causes of maternal mortality. 20
	279	+	(2) Rates of maternal mortality, including rates distinguished by age, race, 21
	280	+	ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location within this State. 22
	281	+	(3) Other factors the Department deems relevant for assessing and improving the 23
	282	+	implicit bias training program. 24
	283	+	"§ 130A-33.63. Rights of perinatal care patients. 25
	284	+	(a) A patient receiving care at a perinatal care facility, defined as a hospital, clinic, or 26
	285	+	birthing center that provides perinatal care in this State, has the following rights: 27
	286	+	(1) To be informed of continuing health care requirements following discharge. 28
	287	+	(2) To be informed that, if the patient so authorizes, and to the extent permitted 29
	288	+	by law, the hospital or health care facility may provide to a friend or family 30
	289	+	member information about the patient's continuing health care requirements 31
	290	+	following discharge. 32
	291	+	(3) To actively participate in decisions regarding the patient's medical care and 33
	292	+	the right to refuse treatment. 34
	293	+	(4) To receive appropriate pain assessment and treatment. 35
	294	+	(5) To receive care and treatment free from discrimination on the basis of age, 36
	295	+	race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic 37
	296	+	information, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual 38
	297	+	orientation, socioeconomic status, citizenship, nationality, immigration status, 39
	298	+	primary language, or language proficiency. 40
	299	+	(6) To receive information on how to file a complaint with the Division of Health 41
	300	+	Service Regulation or the Human Rights Commission or both about any 42
	301	+	violation of these rights. 43
	302	+	(b) Each perinatal care facility shall provide to each perinatal care patient upon admission 44
	303	+	to the facility, or as soon as reasonably practical following admission to the facility, a written 45
	304	+	copy of the rights enumerated in subsection (a) of this section. The facility may provide this 46
	305	+	information to the patient by electronic means, and it may be provided with other notices 47
	306	+	regarding patient rights." 48
	307	+	SECTION 2.1.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department 49
	308	+	of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of two million five hundred 50
	309	+	thousand dollars ($2,500,000) in recurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	310	+	DRH40325-MGa-112 Page 7
	311	+	to establish and administer the implicit bias training program for health care professionals 1
	312	+	engaged in perinatal care authorized by G.S. 130A-33.62, as enacted by this act. 2
	313	+	SECTION 2.2. Section 2.1(a) of this Part becomes effective October 1, 2025. 3
	314	+	Section 2.1(b) of this Part becomes effective July 1, 2025. 4
	315	+	5
	316	+	PART III. SUPPORTING AND DIVERSIFYING LACTATION CONSULTANT 6
	317	+	TRAINING PROGRAMS 7
	318	+	SECTION 3.1.(a) The following definitions apply in this section: 8
	319	+	(1) Historically Black Colleges and Universities or HBCUs. – Institutions of 9
	320	+	higher education that were founded to educate black citizens who were 10
	321	+	historically restricted from attending predominantly white institutions of 11
	322	+	higher education. 12
	323	+	(2) Lactation consultants. – Educators or counselors trained in breast feeding or 13
	324	+	chest feeding practices, lactation care, and lactation services. 14
	325	+	(3) Lactation services. – The clinical application of scientific principles and a 15
	326	+	multidisciplinary body of evidence for evaluation, problem identification, 16
	327	+	treatment, education, and consultation to childbearing families regarding 17
	328	+	lactation care and services. 18
	329	+	(4) Maternity care services. – Health care related to an individual's pregnancy, 19
	330	+	childbirth, or postpartum recovery. 20
	331	+	(5) Preceptor. – A person who is a certified lactation consultant and meets the 21
	332	+	requirements of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners to 22
	333	+	supervise lactation consultants-in-training during the training period. 23
	334	+	SECTION 3.1.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of 24
	335	+	Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) in 25
	336	+	nonrecurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium for the purposes of recruiting, 26
	337	+	training, and retaining a diverse workforce of lactation consultants in North Carolina by 27
	338	+	supporting the infrastructure and sustainability of lactation consultant training programs at 28
	339	+	Historically Black Colleges and Universities located within the State. These funds shall be 29
	340	+	distributed equally among Bennett College, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith 30
	341	+	University, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, and North Carolina 31
	342	+	Central University to cover costs incurred by each university for administering a lactation 32
	343	+	training program, including, but not limited to: 33
	344	+	(1) Leasing or other costs for teaching facilities or approved clinical training sites. 34
	345	+	(2) Student aid or scholarships. 35
	346	+	(3) Compensation for lactation consultant training program teachers and 36
	347	+	preceptors. 37
	348	+	SECTION 3.1.(c) The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide 38
	349	+	technical assistance to Bennett College, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith 39
	350	+	University, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, and North Carolina 40
	351	+	Central University with respect to the following: 41
	352	+	(1) Developing culturally appropriate training content for the lactation consultant 42
	353	+	training programs funded by State appropriations. 43
	354	+	(2) Recruiting persons from historically marginalized populations to enroll in the 44
	355	+	lactation consultant training programs offered at these universities. 45
	356	+	(3) Recruiting historically underutilized providers to serve as teachers and 46
	357	+	preceptors in the lactation consultant training programs offered at these 47
	358	+	universities. 48
	359	+	(4) Identifying rural and medically underserved areas of the State experiencing a 49
	360	+	shortage of lactation consultants in order to recruit program graduates to work 50
	361	+	in these areas. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	362	+	Page 8 DRH40325-MGa-112
	363	+	SECTION 3.1.(d) By May 1, 2028, the Department of Health and Human Services 1
	364	+	shall evaluate and submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and 2
	365	+	Human Services and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the benefits 3
	366	+	received by the State as a result of funding the lactation consultant training programs at North 4
	367	+	Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and Johnson C. Smith University. The report 5
	368	+	shall include at least all of the following information and recommendations: 6
	369	+	(1) The total number of lactation consultants who received training at one of the 7
	370	+	State-funded HBCU lactation programs, broken down by (i) race and ethnicity 8
	371	+	and (ii) chosen work site, such as hospital, provider office, or 9
	372	+	community-based organization. 10
	373	+	(2) A review of the prenatal and postpartum experiences of patients who received 11
	374	+	lactation consultant services from a health care professional who graduated 12
	375	+	from one of the State-funded HBCU lactation consultant programs. The 13
	376	+	review shall address patients' experiences relative to the following: 14
	377	+	a. Health insurance coverage for maternity care services, including 15
	378	+	telehealth lactation consultant services. 16
	379	+	b. Contributing factors to population-based disparities in breast feeding 17
	380	+	and chest feeding outcomes, including bias and discrimination toward 18
	381	+	patients who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups. 19
	382	+	c. Patient satisfaction with the services received from these lactation 20
	383	+	consultants. 21
	384	+	d. Breast feeding or chest feeding initiation and duration rates of patients 22
	385	+	who received services from these lactation consultants. 23
	386	+	SECTION 3.2. This Part becomes effective July 1, 2025. 24
	387	+	25
	388	+	PART IV. PERINATAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM 26
	389	+	SECTION 4.1.(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 27
	390	+	(1) Department. – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human 28
	391	+	Services. 29
	392	+	(2) Perinatal education program. – A program that operates for the primary 30
	393	+	purpose of educating pregnant women and their families about healthy 31
	394	+	pregnancy, preparation for labor and birth, breast feeding, newborn care, or 32
	395	+	any combination of these. 33
	396	+	SECTION 4.1.(b) Establishment of Grant Program. – The Department shall 34
	397	+	establish and administer a Perinatal Education Grant Program to award competitive grants to 35
	398	+	eligible entities to establish or expand perinatal education programs in rural, underserved, or 36
	399	+	low-wealth areas of the State. The Department shall establish eligibility requirements for 37
	400	+	program participation which shall, at a minimum, require that applicants be community-based 38
	401	+	organizations that offer perinatal education and resources aligned with evidence-based practices 39
	402	+	for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 40
	403	+	SECTION 4.1.(c) Outreach and Application Assistance. – Beginning September 1, 41
	404	+	2025, the Department shall (i) conduct outreach to encourage eligible applicants to apply for 42
	405	+	grants under this program and (ii) provide application assistance to eligible applicants on best 43
	406	+	practices for applying for grants under this program. In conducting the outreach required by this 44
	407	+	section, the Department shall give special consideration to eligible applicants that meet the 45
	408	+	following criteria: 46
	409	+	(1) Are based in, and provide support for, communities with high rates of adverse 47
	410	+	maternal health outcomes and significant racial and ethnic disparities in 48
	411	+	maternal health outcomes. 49
	412	+	(2) Are led by black women. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	413	+	DRH40325-MGa-112 Page 9
	414	+	(3) Offer programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices 1
	415	+	for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 2
	416	+	SECTION 4.1.(d) Grant Awards. – In awarding grants under this section, to the 3
	417	+	extent possible, the grant recipients shall reflect different areas of the State. The Department shall 4
	418	+	not award a single grant for less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more than fifty thousand 5
	419	+	dollars ($50,000) per grant recipient. 6
	420	+	SECTION 4.1.(e) Termination of Grant Program. – The Perinatal Grant Program 7
	421	+	authorized by this section expires on June 30, 2027. 8
	422	+	SECTION 4.1.(f) Report. – By October 1, 2028, the Department shall submit a report 9
	423	+	to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal 10
	424	+	Research Division that includes at least all of the following components: 11
	425	+	(1) A detailed report on funds expended for the program for the 2025-2026 fiscal 12
	426	+	year. 13
	427	+	(2) An assessment of the effectiveness of programs funded by grants awarded 14
	428	+	under this section in improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 15
	429	+	(3) Recommendations for future grant programs to be administered by the 16
	430	+	Department and for future funding opportunities for community-based 17
	431	+	organizations to improve maternal health outcomes for black women through 18
	432	+	programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices for 19
	433	+	improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 20
	434	+	SECTION 4.1.(g) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department 21
	435	+	of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of three million dollars 22
	436	+	($3,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to fund the 23
	437	+	Perinatal Education Grant Program authorized by this section. Each fiscal year, the Department 24
	438	+	of Health and Human Services may use up to five percent (5%) of the funds allocated for this 25
	439	+	grant program for administrative purposes related to establishment and administration of the 26
	440	+	Perinatal Education Grant Program. 27
	441	+	SECTION 4.2. This Part becomes effective July 1, 2025. 28
	442	+	29
	443	+	PART V. MOMNI-BUS INITIATIVE 30
	444	+	SECTION 5.1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 31
	445	+	Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health (DPH), the sum of six million five 32
	446	+	hundred thousand dollars ($6,500,000) for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to create 33
	447	+	a Momni-Bus Initiative. The purpose of the Momni-Bus Initiative is to fund efforts to expand 34
	448	+	access to maternal and infant health care and parenting programs, supports, and services to 35
	449	+	families residing in geographic areas of the State where there is limited or no access to maternity 36
	450	+	care services, including obstetric providers, a hospital or birth center, prenatal care, or postpartum 37
	451	+	care. As part of this initiative, the Department shall allocate and use the funds appropriated by 38
	452	+	this section as follows: 39
	453	+	(1) One million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) to provide a directed 40
	454	+	grant to the March of Dimes, Inc., a nonprofit corporation in North Carolina, 41
	455	+	to support its work toward ending preventable maternal health risks and 42
	456	+	deaths, ending preventable preterm birth and infant death, and closing the 43
	457	+	health equity gap. 44
	458	+	(2) Five million dollars ($5,000,000) to award directed grants on a competitive 45
	459	+	basis to nonprofit, community-based, and faith-based organizations that offer 46
	460	+	programs, supports, and services aligned with evidence-based practices for a 47
	461	+	healthy pregnancy through the postpartum period, infant health and care, and 48
	462	+	parenting programs, supports, and services. The DPH shall establish an 49
	463	+	application process and eligibility criteria for awarding the grants authorized 50
	464	+	under this subdivision. By October 1, 2027, and October 1, 2028, the DPH 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	465	+	Page 10 DRH40325-MGa-112
	466	+	shall submit a report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health 1
	467	+	and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division on grants awarded 2
	468	+	under this subdivision. The report shall include at least all of the following: 3
	469	+	a. The identity and a brief description of the community health activities 4
	470	+	performed by each grantee. 5
	471	+	b. The amount of funding awarded to each grantee. 6
	472	+	c. The number of persons served by each grantee. 7
	473	+	SECTION 5.2. This Part becomes effective July 1, 2025. 8
	474	+	9
	475	+	PART VI. EFFECTIVE DATE 10
	476	+	SECTION 6.1. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 11
	477	+	law. 12