H.B. No. 514 proposes the establishment of a maternal health care workforce campaign in Texas, aimed at increasing the number of maternal health care professionals, particularly in rural areas and regions with shortages. The bill introduces a new section, 32.022, to the Health and Safety Code, defining "maternal health care professional" to include certified or licensed individuals such as doulas who provide nonmedical support during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum. The Department of Health will develop a public outreach campaign that focuses on continuing education, trauma-informed care training, and increasing the representation of racial and ethnic minorities in the maternal health workforce.

The campaign will also aim to enhance the overall capacity of the maternal health care workforce by investing in necessary equipment and facilities, as well as implementing programs to improve access to care for underserved populations. The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission is tasked with adopting rules to implement this initiative, which is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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