We Need More Midwives Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 1005

Short Title: We Need More Midwives Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Hise and Chitlik (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S1005-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MIDWIFERY EDUCAT ION GRANT PROGRAM FO R 2
CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AND 3
TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
6
PART I. MIDWIFERY EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM 7
SECTION 1.(a) Program; Purpose. – There is established the Midwifery Education 8
Grant Program (Program) for the 2026 -2027 fiscal year. The purpose of the Program is to 9
increase the number of midwives and midwife training programs in the State to support increased 10
prenatal, natal, and postnatal services for women and families in North Carolina. 11
SECTION 1.(b) Definitions. – For purposes of this section, the following definitions 12
shall apply: 13
(1) Eligible constituent institution. – A constituent institution of The University 14
of North Carolina that meets both of the following criteria: 15
a. Has an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) degree program. 16
b. Does not have an eligible midwife training program. 17
(2) Eligible midwife training p rogram. – A midwife training program that 18
provides a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) credential. 19
(3) HBCU. – A constituent institution of higher education that is a historically 20
black college or university or a historically minority -serving institution of 21
higher education. 22
(4) Partner hospital. – A hospital located in this State that has an established 23
program to allow certified nurse-midwives to deliver children in the hospital. 24
(5) Program. – The Midwifery Education Grant Program established in this 25
section. 26
(6) System Office. – The University of North Carolina System Office. 27
SECTION 1.(c) Eligibility. – Any eligible constituent institution of The University 28
of North Carolina may apply to The University of North Carolina System Office for a grant to 29
establish an eligible midwife program under the Program. 30
SECTION 1.(d) Applications; Criteria and Guidelines. – No later than September 31
30, 2026, the System Office shall develop and publish criteria and guidelines for the application 32
process for the Program, inc luding any documentation required to be submitted by the eligible 33
constituent institutions. The System Office shall accept applications until December 31, 2026. 34
Applications shall include, at a minimum, the following information: 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 1005-First Edition
(1) Evidence that the applicant has or will establish a relationship with a partner 1
hospital. 2
(2) A proposed budget for the eligible midwife training program. 3
(3) A plan to graduate at least 20 certified nurse -midwives by the fifth year of 4
operation of the eligible midwife training program. 5
(4) A time line to establish the eligible midwife training program, including the 6
academic year in which the program would begin enrolling students. 7
SECTION 1.(e) Award and Priority. – Grant awards shall not exceed four million 8
dollars ($4,000,000) per eligible constituent institution, and the System Office shall award grants 9
to selected applicants by March 15, 2027. In awarding grants to eligible constituent institutions 10
under the Program, the System Office shall make every effort to ensure that grant recipients are 11
representative of the geographical diversity of the State and shall prioritize awards to eligible 12
constituent institutions that meet one or more of the following criteria, with more criteria 13
resulting in greater priority: 14
(1) Are HBCUs. 15
(2) Are located near a partner hospital. 16
(3) Have a plan to establish an eligible midwife training program as soon as 17
practicable and not later than the 2029-2030 academic year. 18
SECTION 1.(f) Use of Funds. – Grant funds awarded under the Program may be 19
used for any of the following purposes related to the establishment of an eligible midwife training 20
program: 21
(1) Faculty and staff. 22
(2) Additional nurse preceptors for the APRN degree program at the eligible 23
constituent institution. 24
(3) Other expenses necessary to establishing an eligible midwife training 25
program. 26
SECTION 1.(g) Report. – No later than October 15, 2027, and annually thereafter 27
until all eligible constituent institutions receiving funds have expe nded those funds, the System 28
Office shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal 29
Research Division on the following information related to the Program: 30
(1) Number and amount of grants awarded. 31
(2) Identities of eligible constituent institutions receiving grants. 32
(3) Identities of eligible constituent institutions that applied for grants but did not 33
receive one. 34
(4) Estimated time lines to establish eligible midwife training programs as a result 35
of grants received under the Program. 36
(5) Any other matter the System Office deems relevant. 37
38
PART II. APPROPRIATION 39
SECTION 2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors 40
of The University of North Carolina the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000 ) in 41
nonrecurring funds for the 2026 -2027 fiscal year to be allocated to The University of North 42
Carolina System Office to provide grants to constituent institutions of The University of North 43
Carolina to establish eligible midwifery programs in accordance with Section 1 of this act. These 44
funds shall not revert at the end of the 202 6-2027 fiscal year but shall remain available until 45
expended. 46
47
PART III. EFFECTIVE DATE 48
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2026. 49