North Carolina HB 725: MOMnibus 3.0.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 725

Short Title: MOMnibus 3.0. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives von Haefen, Hawkins, Alston, and Johnson-Hostler (Primary
Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 3, 2025
*H725-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ENACT THE NORTH CAROLINA MOMNIBUS ACT. 2
Whereas, every person should be entitled to dignity and respect during and after 3
pregnancy and childbirth, and patients should receive the best care possible regardless of age, 4
race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, 5
marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, 6
citizenship, nationality, immigration status, primary language, or language proficiency; and 7
Whereas, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed 8
world, where about 700 women die each year from childbirth and another 50,000 suffer from 9
severe complications; and 10
Whereas, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that the 11
majority of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable; and 12
Whereas, pregnancy-related deaths among black birthing people are also more likely 13
to be miscoded; and 14
Whereas, access to prenatal care, socioeconomic status, and general physical health 15
do not fully explain the disparity seen in maternal mortality and morbidity rates among black 16
individuals, and there is a growing body of evidence that black people are often treated unfairly 17
and unequally in the health care system; and 18
Whereas, implicit bias is a key driver of health disparities in communities of color; 19
and 20
Whereas, health care providers in North Carolina are not required to undergo any 21
implicit bias testing or training; and 22
Whereas, currently there does not exist any system to track the number of incidents 23
where implicit prejudice and implicit stereotypes led to negative birth and maternal health 24
outcomes; and 25
Whereas, it is in the interest of this State to reduce the effects of implicit bias in 26
pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care so that all people are treated with dignity and respect 27
by their health care providers; Now, therefore, 28
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 29
30
PART I. SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS 31
32
ESTABLISHMENT OF MATERNAL CARE ACCESS GRANT PROGRAM 33
SECTION 1.1.(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 34

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 725-First Edition
(1) Culturally respectful congruent. – Sensitive to and respectful of the preferred 1
cultural values, beliefs, world view, and practices of the patient, and aware 2
that cultural differences between patients and health care providers or other 3
service providers must be proactively addressed to ensure that patients receive 4
equitable, high-quality services that meet their needs. 5
(2) Department. – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human 6
Services. 7
(3) Postpartum. – The one-year period beginning on the last day of a woman's 8
pregnancy. 9
SECTION 1.1.(b) Establishment of Grant Program. – The Department shall 10
establish and administer a Maternal Care Access Grant Program to award competitive grants to 11
eligible entities to establish or expand programs for the prevention of maternal mortality and 12
severe maternal morbidity among black women. The Department shall establish eligibility 13
requirements for program participation which shall, at a minimum, require that applicants be 14
community-based organizations offering programs and resources aligned with evidence-based 15
practices for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 16
SECTION 1.1.(c) Outreach and Application Assistance. – Beginning July 1, 2025, 17
the Department shall (i) conduct outreach to encourage eligible applicants to apply for grants 18
under this program and (ii) provide application assistance to eligible applicants on best practices 19
for applying for grants under this program. In conducting the outreach required by this section, 20
the Department shall give special consideration to eligible applicants that meet the following 21
criteria: 22
(1) Are based in, and provide support for, communities with high rates of adverse 23
maternal health outcomes and significant racial and ethnic disparities in 24
maternal health outcomes. 25
(2) Are led by black women. 26
(3) Offer programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices 27
for improving maternal health outcomes for black women. 28
SECTION 1.1.(d) Grant Awards. – In awarding grants under this section, the 29
Department shall, to the extent possible, award grants to recipients to reflect different areas of 30
the State. The Department shall not award a single grant for less than ten thou