Summer 2025 Advocacy Recap

It’s been a busy summer!

Stakeholder Engagement: We've held productive meetings with key organizations including the Georgia Hospital Association, Georgia Nurses Association, Georgia OBGYN Society/ACOG, and Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies. While each group has raised specific concerns about HB520, conversations have been constructive and focused on shared values around maternal health, patient safety, and addressing provider shortages.

Georgia NACPM was thrilled to sponsor Georgia Community Doula Collectives convening.

Community Partnerships: We've connected with several maternal health organizations including Hope for Georgia Moms, the Black Maternal Health Taskforce, Georgia Community Doula Coalition, and the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center. These groups recognize midwifery licensure as a priority for improving maternal outcomes and rural access to care.

Midwives from Georgia NACPM and Black Midwives Over Georgia met with Senator Nikki Merritt to discuss legislative priorities for 2026 to include licensure for midwives.

Legislative Support: We've met with multiple state representatives who have expressed support for direct-entry midwife licensure. Key messages resonating with legislators include cost savings, the fact that surrounding states license midwives, and the collaborative care model licensure would facilitate.

National Context: Several states are actively pursuing midwifery licensure legislation with varying success, providing valuable lessons for Georgia's efforts.

Next Steps: We're incorporating stakeholder feedback to prepare a revised bill before the legislative session begins. We acknowledge that midwives will need to work within a system of referral and collaboration with other types of providers for enhanced safety of the mothers and babies we care for. Our desire is to craft bill language that reflects this while not causing harm to the midwifery community.

Please feel free to reach out with questions or concerns to naccpmga@gmail.com