Legislation Update
As of February 2022
On February 17th, 2022 Rep. Koehler introduced HB 496 and spoke to why he believes it is an important law to pass and why it should move through this committee. All committee meetings are open to the public and televised. Here is a link to the video.
There will be a second day of testimony from proponents, opponents and interested parties. The date has yet to be scheduled but if you’re interested in testifying, contact Rep. Manchester's office (chairperson) at familiesaging&humanservicescommittee@ohiohouse.gov
to receive guidance on how to register to testify.
The full bill can be viewed here.
And the bill analysis can be viewed here.
As of October 2021
HB 402 was introduced on 8/24/21 and was assigned to the Family, Aging and Human Services Committee on 9/21/21. NOW is the time to write or call your Representative and express concern with how this bill will impact consumers ability to have midwifery care available for families who choose to home birth. Go to: https://ohiohouse.gov/ to learn who your Representative is.
A telephone call to your representative's office, an email or a personally written letter will help to have a collective consumer voice against a bill that, as written, will eliminate many options of midwifery for home birth. Share with your representative how important your midwifery care was for your out-of-hospital birth. Stand up for your birthing rights in Ohio! Don't put it off... act today!
NOW is also the time to express the same concerns to the Chairman of the Family, Aging and Human Services Committee - Susan Manchester (District 84) - write, email: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/susan-manchester/contact or call her at
614-466-6344.
As of September 2021
We have recently become aware of House Bill 402, entitled Ohio Midwife Practice Act, with co-sponsors Janine Boyd and Paula Hicks-Hudson. It was introduced into the Ohio legislature on August 24, 2021. It will regulate CPMs in the State of Ohio and, essentially, all practicing midwives.
It looks to be basically the same bill Rep. Boyd was drafting previously but it seems she has revamped it a bit, sought a new co-sponsor (Paula Hicks-Hudson), and introduced it without incorporating the revisions that were suggested to her by CMO and other Ohio midwives.
The bill now has 12 co-sponsors.
Click the link below to view the draft.
As of June 2021.
Community Midwives of Ohio has received confirmation that Representative Janine Boyd (District 9) has suspended her recent efforts towards a midwifery bill. This legislation would have created a licensing mechanism for midwives in the State of Ohio. According to CMO, the bill was in its early writing stages and included many challenges for practicing midwives which would, in turn, create challenges for consumers of midwifery care for home birth.