Committee hears heated testimony on licensing pregnancy-related service centers; sponsor defers bill
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Summary
Representative Freeman's bill to require LDH licensure for pregnancy-related service centers prompted supportive testimony citing maternal-health gaps and an auditor's report; opponents warned of burdens and overbreadth. The sponsor voluntarily deferred the bill for further revision.
Lawmakers heard several hours of testimony on House Bill 611, which would require Louisiana Department of Health licensure and oversight for pregnancy-related service centers that provide health-care services.
Sponsor Representative Freeman said HB 611 responds to poor maternal and infant outcomes and a legislative-auditor review. She said centers that provide medical services such as ultrasounds should meet basic medical-licensure standards and oversight so that pregnant women receive evidence-based care. "What I'm trying to do is protect all the moms and babies in our state and make sure that they're getting the best medical advice," she told the committee.
Public-health experts and a legislative auditor supported the bill. Dr. Melissa Golden Evans of Tulane cited maternity-care deserts and racial disparities and argued that unlicensed centers can delay diagnosis and worsen outcomes. Emily Braun, the auditor who led the Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative review, testified that pregnancy centers are not required to meet staff-licensing or HIPAA requirements because they are not licensed health-care facilities. The audit found roughly 38 pregnancy centers statewide and noted that, among the 12 centers participating in the state's Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative, nine reported having a physician with an active license on staff. The audit recommended requiring disclosure when a center is not a licensed health-care facility and considering licensure when centers provide clinical services.
Organized pregnancy-center representatives and some speakers opposed the bill. Dorothy Wallace (Caring to Love Ministries) said her organization has operated with a board-certified medical director and nurses for decades and opposed additional state licensure requirements. Ben Clapper (Louisiana Right to Life) and other opponents warned that licensure would impose burdens on small nonprofits that provide free services and that the bill's definitions and penalties were overly broad. Opponents cited a fiscal note and raised questions about whether the bill might encompass nonmedical entities such as ultrasound boutiques.
Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Rebecca Harris described the state Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative (statutory citation discussed in testimony) and said DCFS contracts with a subset of pregnancy centers, reimbursing services and helping more than 13,000 women through the program in 2025. Auditors and staff told members their analysis focused on whether facilities providing health services are regulated as licensed health-care providers and recommended clearer disclosure and possible licensure of facilities offering clinical services.
Representative Freeman said she would work with stakeholders and staff to refine language and voluntarily deferred the bill to a future committee meeting to pursue amendments and further stakeholder engagement.
The committee did not vote on HB 611; the sponsor requested deferral so staff can assist with revisions.
