The proposed legislation, known as "The Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026," aims to establish a permanent framework for enhancing maternal health care and access across the state. It creates a new chapter in Title 23 of the General Laws, which includes the formation of a Rhode Island maternal health advisory board tasked with overseeing the implementation of a maternal health strategic plan, making recommendations for improvements in maternal care access and outcomes, reviewing statewide maternal data and disparities, and advising on workforce development and community health access grants.

The act is built upon a five-year federal Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) grant awarded to the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to address existing disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality. It establishes a maternal health data and surveillance unit responsible for monitoring maternal morbidity and mortality, integrating data on social and environmental determinants, and providing annual reports on maternal health outcomes.

Additionally, the act mandates the establishment of a maternal health workforce development program to expand training pathways for midwives, community birth workers, and doulas, and to support bilingual and culturally concordant workforce pipelines. It also provides for the awarding of competitive community maternal health access grants to expand local supports, including prenatal navigation services and programs addressing postpartum mental health.

To support these initiatives, the act appropriates $2.7 million for the fiscal year 2026-2027, which will fund various components such as the maternal health data and surveillance unit, workforce development programs, and community-based maternal health access grants. The legislation emphasizes the importance of long-term sustainability beyond the federal grant period, ensuring that the advisory board continues to report on progress and funding needs annually. The act is designed to improve maternal health outcomes and support the well-being of families and communities throughout Rhode Island.