HB 2251 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - Second Regular Session

midwives; medication administration; advisory committee

This bill expands the scope of practice for licensed midwives in Arizona by allowing them to administer specific medications related to pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care, provided they complete a required pharmacology course (8+ continuing education units). It details permitted medications (such as antibiotics for infections, antivirals for herpes, antifungals, and medications for postpartum hemorrhage) with strict conditions, including documentation, storage rules, and prohibitions on using certain drugs to induce labor. The bill also establishes an Arizona Midwifery Advisory Committee, composed of midwives, physicians, and consumers, to assist the health department with licensing and disciplinary matters. These changes directly affect licensed midwives and their patients, aiming to improve access to certain medical treatments during childbirth while maintaining safety standards.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Last action Jun 10, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Engrossed Version (03/05/2026) → Senate Engrossed Version · 5 edits · Mar 5, 2026

MODERATE

This bill transfers the regulation of midwives from the Department of Health Services to the newly established Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board. It renumbers existing statutes to reflect this transfer and creates a separate financial account for midwifery funds within the new board. The changes also update the board's membership requirements to include a licensed midwife and modify reporting and fee structures.

Scope change

The regulatory authority for midwifery shifted from the Department of Health Services to the Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board, changing the administrative body responsible for licensing, discipline, and oversight.

SCOPE

Regulatory authority for midwifery was transferred from the Department of Health Services to the Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board.

ELIGIBILITY

The Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board now includes a licensed midwife as a voting member, whereas the previous board did not.

FISCAL

A separate account was created within the board's fund specifically for midwifery licensing and regulation fees, ensuring these funds are not commingled with naturopathic physician funds.

REQUIREMENT

Reporting requirements were updated to require midwives to report maternal and neonatal deaths occurring within the first month of life or pregnancy, rather than just deaths within 72 hours.

TECHNICAL

Statute numbers were renumbered (e.g., from Title 36 to Title 32) to reflect the transfer of authority to the new board.

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version (03/05/2026) · 6 edits · Mar 5, 2026

MODERATE

This bill significantly expands the scope of practice for licensed midwives in Arizona by allowing them to dispense a wider range of prescription medications, including antibiotics, antifungals, and specific anti-hemorrhagic drugs, provided they complete a pharmacology course. It also establishes a new advisory committee to oversee midwifery standards and safety, and introduces mandatory annual reporting requirements for midwives to track patient outcomes and sentinel events. These changes aim to increase midwives' ability to provide comprehensive care while implementing new oversight mechanisms to ensure public safety.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of practice for licensed midwives to include dispensing and administering a broader list of prescription medications and therapies, and adds new requirements for mandatory annual reporting and a new advisory committee.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for licensed midwives to complete an eight-unit pharmacology course to qualify for dispensing and administering expanded medications.

Added mandatory annual reporting requirements for midwives to submit data on patient numbers, deliveries, transfers, deaths, and specific clinical outcomes to the Department of Health Services.

Added a requirement for midwives to disclose professional liability insurance status to patients at the start of care.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the list of allowable medications for midwives to include antibiotics, antifungals, topical steroids, anti-hemorrhagic agents, intravenous fluids, and other supplies, while removing specific limitations on using anti-hemorrhagic drugs for labor induction.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new section establishing the Arizona Midwifery Advisory Committee to assist with licensing, disciplinary matters, and reviewing sentinel events.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'sentinel event' to include maternal and neonatal incidents such as ICU admissions, uterine rupture, and low birth weight.

Floor votes · House Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

42–8

Passed · 10 other

Total votes 60

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic27

20 Yea 3 Nay 4

74% Yea

R Republican33

22 Yea 5 Nay 6

66% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

DPA

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

DPA

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Feb 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors