H.B. No. 4553, also known as Malik's Law, mandates that licensed midwives in Texas report birth outcomes to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation within 10 days of attending any birth outside of a hospital setting. This reporting requirement applies to all births attended by midwives, regardless of the outcome, including cases of maternal or neonatal transfer to a hospital, intrapartum death, or unforeseen medical circumstances. The bill outlines specific contents that must be included in the Birth & Outcomes Report, such as midwife information, birth details, complications, hospital transfers, and survival status. Additionally, it requires that if multiple midwives are present, all must co-sign the report.

The bill also establishes penalties for non-compliance, including written warnings, fines, and potential license suspension for repeated offenses. It mandates that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation conduct random audits of the reports to ensure accuracy and compliance. Furthermore, hospitals are required to report any deaths or morbidities linked to midwife-attended births, which will be cross-checked against midwife-submitted reports. The Executive Commissioner of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and the DSHS will have the authority to adopt necessary rules for implementing these provisions, including the public display of de-identified statistics on maternal and neonatal outcomes from midwife-attended births in Texas. The law is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 203.154 (Occupations Code 203)