Committee approves bill to restore Positive Alternatives grant money and add maternity‑home funding

The House Health Finance Policy Committee on Feb. 12 recommended passage, as amended, of House File 25, a bill that would reestablish funding for the Positive Alternatives grant program and direct a $1 million portion of the grant appropriation to maternity homes.

The bill, introduced by Representative Zalesnikar, was approved on a roll call, 11–10, and will be referred to the House Judicial Committee for further consideration. Representative Zalesnikar moved adoption of an A2 author amendment before final action; the committee adopted the amendment prior to the final vote.

The bill’s author, Representative Zalesnikar, described HF25 as “a supporting women bill” that restores the prior Positive Alternatives grant stream and adds a housing component. She told the committee the bill reallocates $4,000,000 that had supported positive alternatives grants prior to 2023, directing $3,000,000 to pregnancy resource centers and $1,000,000 to maternity homes. “It’s taking the same allocation and…allowing safe housing for women,”…