A representative for Moms Advocating for Moms Alliance urged the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation commission to strengthen midwifery oversight, citing delayed public-records responses, gaps in inspections and unanswered advisory-board vacancies.

Who spoke: Amanda Kalica, representing Moms Advocating for Moms Alliance, told commissioners that open-records requests had been delayed or cited incorrect attorney-general rulings, that midwifery complaint files had remained open for months, and that some serious cases had resulted in fines of $3,000–$10,000 or one-year license revocations while the speaker said alleged incidents involving loss of life had not resulted in stronger department action.

Why it matters: Kalica said the department’s current complaint handling and the midwifery advisory board’s inactivity reduce public confidence and limit expert input into investigations involving maternal or newborn harm.

Details from the public comment: Kalica thanked an individual staff member, Doug Bennings, for assistance but said that systemic problems persisted. She said midwifery license renewals were not updated on the website, some cases had been closed without completion, and that the midwifery advisory board had not met since October 2023 and had three vacancies since January. She urged use of risk-based inspections for midwifery licensees when complaints allege severe negligence or loss of life and cited a statute for risk-based inspections adopted in a prior legislative session: “During my research... the sunset committee wrote a law under the occupations code chapter 51 section 211 for risk based inspections,” she said.

Department response and context: Commissioners acknowledged the comment and the meeting proceeded to executive session on unrelated contested matters. The transcript shows Kalica’s public comment occurred during the designated public-comment period; commissioners and staff later said staff would follow up with commenters and respondents after hearings and decisions.

What Kalica requested: Greater transparency and timelier open-records responses; initiation of risk-based inspections for midwifery licensees in cases alleging serious harm; and refill of advisory-board vacancies so experts can assist investigations and policy.

Ending: Kalica asked that the commission address systemic open-records and inspection shortcomings; staff in the meeting said they would follow up with commenters on available options.