Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HR 591: Black Midwives Day; March 14, 2025; recognize
Last action March 20, 2025 · House Second Readers
A Georgia House resolution recognizes March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day, honoring Black midwives and drawing attention to racial disparities in maternal health outcomes.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives does not change any law. It designates March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day, aligning with a national campaign started by the National Black Midwives Alliance in 2023 to raise awareness about Black maternal health. The resolution's whereas clauses describe high rates of maternal mortality and pregnancy complications among Black birthing people compared to white birthing people, and point to structural racism and unequal access to care as contributing causes. It states that midwifery, especially culturally aligned care from Black midwives, can improve outcomes. The resolution formally honors Black midwives for their contributions to maternal health and family well-being in Georgia and directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day in the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Honors Black midwives for their contributions to maternal health care and family well-being in Georgia and beyond.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
- Does not create any new law, funding, program, or requirement; it is a symbolic statement of recognition.
Who it affects
Black midwives and the families they serve, maternal health advocates, and the National Black Midwives Alliance are named in the resolution. It also speaks broadly to Black birthing people in Georgia and the health care providers, including doulas and obstetricians, who work alongside midwives.
Why it matters
While the resolution does not change any law or fund any program, it puts the Georgia House of Representatives on record acknowledging racial disparities in maternal health outcomes and the role midwifery can play, which may raise public awareness of the issue.
Key provisions
- The resolved clause recognizes March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day and honors Black midwives' contributions to maternal health and family well-being in Georgia and beyond.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available for distribution to the public and the press.
- The whereas clauses cite maternal morbidity rates for Black birthing people as twice that of white birthing people and describe structural racism as a contributing factor, though these are background statements rather than operative law.
From the bill
“Black birthing people in the United States suffer from life-threatening pregnancy complications, known as maternal morbidities, at twice the rate of white birthing people”
“the members of this body recognize March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day and honor Black midwives for their invaluable contributions to maternal health care and the well-being of families in the State of Georgia and beyond”
Status timeline
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Park Cannon (D, HD-58)
- Karen Bennett (D, HD-94)
- Tanya F. Miller (D, HD-62)
- Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
- Kim Schofield (D, HD-63)
Topics
- maternal health
- Black midwives
- health disparities
- commemorative resolution