HB520 2025-2026 Legislative Session Recap: Historic Progress Toward Midwifery Licensure in Georgia
2025-2026 Was Our Strongest Session Yet!
The 2025-2026 legislative session marked the most significant advancement in Georgia's fight for midwifery licensure since advocacy began in 1991. While HB520—the Licensed Midwife Act—did not receive a committee vote before Crossover Day, the groundwork we laid this session positions us for success like never before.
This was not a defeat. This was a marathon training run that made us faster, sharper, and better prepared to win.
By the Numbers: Unprecedented Advocacy Infrastructure
Professional Lobbying Investment
Terminus Strategies, our professional lobbying firm, executed the most comprehensive advocacy campaign in Georgia midwifery history:
Targeted Legislative Engagement:
10 funded lunches and meetings with key legislators
13 strategic support sessions with midwives and lobbyists (biweekly strategy calls plus ad-hoc communication)
Secured presentation opportunity with House Democratic Caucus and Women’s Legislative Caucus
Secured and funded an additional presentation with Democratic Caucus with catered lunch
Funded NACPM GA sponsorship of Women's Caucus retreat in Jekyll Island
Stakeholder Meetings: Building the Foundation
Our team engaged in extensive technical discussions with major stakeholder organizations to refine regulatory language and address concerns:
Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) -two introductory meetings
Addressed hospital liability and safety protocol concerns
Clarified emergency care planning requirements
Critical insight gained: GHA opposition is now a known obstacle we can strategically address
Georgia Nurses Association (GNA)
Received specific technical feedback on bill language
Clarified concerns about APRN references and medication lists
Confirmed GNA is in support of our licensure
Georgia OBGYN Society/ACOG - one introductory meeting
Identified shared values: high-quality care, patient autonomy, addressing provider shortages, collaboration across teams
Discussed national organization policies (ICM Global Standards for midwifery education)
Had constructive dialogue about CPM certification appropriateness and board composition
Built foundation for ongoing collaboration
American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) - one introductory meeting
AABC reviewing HB520 for potential endorsement
Coalition Building: Unprecedented Alliances
In addition to our continued alliance with Black Midwives Over Georgia, NACPM GA was able to establish partnership with multiple other organizations.
Maternal Health Organizations:
Invitation extended for Missi Burgess, NACPM GA President, to join Maternal Health Task Force
Receptive to CPM education and collaboration
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies
NACPM GA invited to participate in Maternal Health Awareness Day at the Georgia Capitol on January 21, 2026
Identified as key policy priority: Perinatal Workforce expansion including midwives as rural access solutions
NACPM GA identified as a leader and strategic partner in perinatal workforce expansion
Invited to participate in the Maternal Health Vitality Think Tank
Reproductive Justice & Community Organizations:
Gather & Grow: Georgia Community Doula Coalition Convening (GCDC)
NACPM GA sponsored this event
Discussion of how to address licensure concerns while preserving cultural work of doulas
Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) Georgia Black Maternal Health Taskforce
HB520 identified and supported as "Direct-Entry Midwife" licensure bill
Midwifery licensure ranked #2 in top policy priorities (after Medicaid expansion)
Discussion of federal funding for midwifery education requiring licensure
Major Public Engagement Events
Lobby for Midwives Day - January 2025
Grassroots advocacy day attended by 50+ participants
Constituent contacts with legislators
Direct advocacy training and execution
Maternal Health Awareness Day at the Georgia State Capitol - January 2026
NACPM GA participated as an invited organization, tabling with information and resources
Built visibility and credibility with legislators and maternal health advocates
Strengthened relationships with allied organizations
Reproductive Justice Advocacy Day - February 2026
NACPM GA participated as a sponsor and lead in lobbying pod
HB520 featured on the legislative agenda
Many advocates elevated midwifery licensure throughout the day
Fostered critical relationships and expanded coalition network
Grassroots Power
When HB520 faced its critical moment before Crossover Day, over 100 Georgia constituents flooded Chairman Hawkins' office with calls and emails demanding that HB520 be brought to a committee vote.
This unprecedented mobilization demonstrated:
Strong grassroots support across the state
Motivated base ready to advocate
Constituent pressure that legislators cannot ignore
Organizational capacity to activate supporters rapidly
This matters. Legislative offices track constituent contacts. A hundred voices on a single issue signals that voters are paying attention—and that creates political leverage.
Bill Refinement: Technical Improvements
Throughout the session, HB520 was strengthened through stakeholder feedback:
Clarifications Made:
Bill scope: educational requirements needed for stakeholder collaboration and support
Medication jurisdiction and pharmacy rules addressed
Professional licensure board composition
Decriminalization for Traditional Midwives
Strategic Decisions:
Some technical issues better addressed in Rules and Regulations vs. legislation
Preparation of substitute bill incorporating stakeholder feedback
Strengthening decriminalization language
What We Learned: Strategic Intelligence
The Obstacle Is Now Visible
The Georgia Hospital Association's opposition is identified, understood, and can now be strategically addressed.
This clarity is power. We now know:
Which stakeholders need targeted education
What concerns must be addressed in next year's bill language
Where coalition-building efforts should focus
How to counter misinformation and fear-based objections
Legislative Process Mastery
We deepened our understanding of:
Committee scheduling and agenda-setting dynamics
Crossover Day deadlines and strategic timing
The critical role of Rules Committee positioning
Importance of Democratic and Republican caucus engagement
Value of presenting to Women's Caucus and other affinity groups
Relationships Are Everything
The dozens of meetings, lunches, presentations, and coalition events weren't just about HB520—they were about building trust, credibility, and long-term relationships with:
Legislators who will champion future bills
Maternal health organizations who share our goals
Community leaders who can mobilize support
Healthcare stakeholders who can become allies instead of obstacles
Why This Session Was Historic
For the first time in Georgia midwifery advocacy history:
✅ We had professional lobbyists working consistently on our behalf with strategic legislative access
✅ We engaged in multiple substantive meetings with major healthcare stakeholder organizations
✅ We were invited to participate in Maternal Health Awareness Day at the Capitol
✅ We sponsored and participated in Reproductive Justice Advocacy Day with HB520 on the agenda
✅ We secured presentations to Democratic Caucus and Women's Caucus
✅ We built alliances with organizations that have statewide reach
✅ We identified legislative champions willing to actively advocate on our behalf
✅ We received technical feedback from stakeholder organizations that will strengthen future bills
✅ We positioned midwifery as a maternal health workforce solution alongside other provider types
The Path Forward: Why We're Positioned to Win
Georgia's need for midwifery care has never been more urgent:
🚨 One of the worst maternal mortality rates in the nation
🚨 Over 40% of counties are maternity care deserts
🚨 Families desperately want access to respectful, comprehensive midwifery care
🚨 Struggling birth center infrastructure and closures
And now we have:
💪 Professional lobbying infrastructure
💪 Strategic stakeholder relationships
💪 Legislative champions ready to lead
💪 Coalition partners with resources and reach
💪 Grassroots supporters willing to mobilize
💪 Technical refinements that address concerns
💪 Clear understanding of opposition and how to counter it
What Happens Next
Immediate Actions (2026):
Continued lobbyist engagement: Terminus Strategies continues building relationships and strategizing even without an active bill
Constituent education campaign: Supporters educating their own representatives using resources at www.georgiacpm.org
Counter-campaign development: Planning targeted strategy to address Georgia Hospital Association opposition
Coalition strengthening: Deepening partnerships with maternal health organizations, faith-based allies, and community leaders
Bill refinement: Incorporating stakeholder feedback into improved legislative language. 2027 starts a new biennial session in Georgia, which means we will have a new bill number for 2027-2028.
2027 Legislative Session Preparation:
Substitute bill ready with technical improvements
Stakeholder endorsements secured
Legislative champions briefed and ready
Grassroots network prepared to activate
Counter-campaign to GHA opposition planned for execution
How You Can Support This Work
The infrastructure we've built requires sustained investment.
Our lobbyists continue working even without an active bill—building relationships, strategizing for next session, positioning us for success.
This professional advocacy is not free. It requires funding.
Every dollar you contribute funds:
Professional lobbying that opens doors midwives can't access alone
Strategic stakeholder meetings and coalition-building events
Legislative briefings and educational materials
Grassroots mobilization campaigns
Technical bill drafting and legal review
The Bottom Line
Licensed midwives practice in 38 states. Georgia will be joining them.
Not because it's easy. Not because opposition doesn't exist.
But because the need is real, the evidence is clear, and we are relentless.
Your children and grandchildren will have access to licensed midwifery care in Georgia because we refused to quit after this setback.
We adapted. We learned. We built. And we're coming back stronger.
The 2025-2026 session wasn't the finish line—it was the most important training ground we've ever had.
And we're ready for what comes next.