HR591: HR591 Black Midwives Day; March 14, 2025; recognize

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives designates March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day. It follows the National Black Midwives Alliance's 2023 campaign, which was created to raise awareness about Black maternal health, honor the history of Black midwifery, and support policies that improve care for Black birthing people. The resolution recites statistics on maternal health disparities, noting that Black birthing people face pregnancy complications at twice the rate of white birthing people, and points to structural racism and unequal access to resources as contributing causes. It does not create new programs, funding, or legal requirements. It simply directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies available to the public and press.

• Formally recognizes March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day in the Georgia House of Representatives.
• Honors Black midwives for their role in maternal health care and family well-being in Georgia and beyond.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
• Creates no new laws, funding, or regulatory requirements; it is a symbolic statement rather than binding legislation.

The resolution speaks to Black midwives, Black birthing people and families, and maternal health advocates. It does not impose obligations on any Georgia agency, business, or individual beyond directing the House Clerk to distribute copies.

Because this is a resolution rather than a law, it does not change any Georgia statute or create funding, but it puts the General Assembly on record acknowledging maternal health disparities affecting Black birthing people and the role midwives play in addressing them.

• The resolved clause recognizes March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day and honors Black midwives' contributions to maternal health care.
• A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
• The whereas clauses cite statistics on Black maternal mortality and morbidity rates and describe the origins of the Black Midwives Day campaign, but create no enforceable obligations.

1. 2025-03-20House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-18House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-13House Hopper (House)

• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)Primary sponsor
• Karen Bennett (D, HD-094)
• Tanya Miller (D, HD-062)
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)

• maternal health
• midwifery
• Black maternal mortality
• health equity
• legislative resolution