HB 598 Alabama House · 2026 Regular Session

Creates the Rural Maternal and Infant Health Equity Act and Rural Maternal and Infant Health Equity Program Fund to improve birth outcomes in rural communities

This bill establishes the Rural Maternal and Infant Health Equity Act to improve birth outcomes in rural Alabama communities by expanding access to prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care. It creates a new state fund to support grants for midwifery and doula services, requires Medicaid and private insurers to cover these services, and establishes a training program to recruit obstetric providers to rural areas. The legislation also provides capital grants for building rural birth centers and modernizing hospital obstetric units, while funding locally led maternal health partnerships that offer home visits and mobile clinics.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 10, 2026 Last action Mar 10, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
2
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Ways and Means General Fund)
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Curtis Travis
Curtis Travis
DDemocratic
AL
72