Senate panel reviews Certified Midwife Act language; committee told portions mirror nurse-midwife law

Sen. Sandra Bolden presented Senate File 832 on March 28, which would create a certified midwife licensure pathway in Minnesota, expanding the midwifery workforce as part of an effort to address maternal health access and racial disparities.

Sen. Bolden said the bill mirrors practice and penalty language used for certified nurse midwives so the new pathway aligns with existing standards. "This certified midwife licensure is an evidence based strategy that we can implement in Minnesota to expand our midwifery workforce," Bolden said.

Committee counsel flagged sections (15, 17, 18—1 20, 22—1 23) with privacy and immunity elements that fall under Judiciary Committee jurisdiction. The committee also noted a gross-misdemeanor penalty in lines 2.20—1 0.7 and 20.8.

Sen. Rich Limmer asked whether the conviction language (felony-level offenses) would bar applicants who pled down to gross misdemeanors. Julie Sabo, clinical nurse specialist and APRN coalition past president who assisted drafting the bill, said the language is identical to current nurse practice statute and that senators should rely on existing statutory standards for certified nurse midwives.

Committee action: Senator Limmer moved and members voted to recommend the bill to pass and be re-referred to the Senate Committee on State and Local Government. The committee recorded the motion and voice vote in committee minutes; the bill will continue through the legislative process for additional stops.

Why it matters: Sponsors said adding a certified midwife path aims to expand access in maternity-care deserts and diversify the workforce; the Judiciary Committee limited its review to privacy, immunity and criminal-history provisions.

Next steps: SF 832 proceeds to the State & Local Government Committee for policy areas outside Judiciary's jurisdiction.