SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3091

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 9, 2025

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3091.

      As amended and reported, this bill requires the New Jersey Maternal Infant Health Innovation Authority, in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services, to establish a public awareness campaign to provide information to the general public about the benefits of doula and midwife services.

      Under the amended bill, at a minimum, the campaign will include:  a comprehensive description of the person-centered and supportive services provided for birthing persons and infants during the prenatal, birthing, and postpartum periods by doulas and midwives; the culturally competent nature of the care and services provided by doulas and midwives to birthing persons; the health benefits and improved maternal and infant health outcomes that may result from doula and midwives; and any free or low-cost resources made available by the State for doula and midwife services.

      The President and Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Maternal Infant Health Innovation Authority will, at a minimum:  (1) provide for the development of printed and electronic educational materials related to the public awareness campaign in additional languages to those State government entities are to use pursuant to P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.); and (2) make those materials available for download online and encourage the distribution of the materials to the public through a variety of entities, including, but not limited to:  local health agencies and clinics; local health care providers and facilities; reproductive health service providers, including, but not limited to, Planned Parenthood health clinics; local WIC agencies and clinic offices; county human services offices; pharmacies; and other community-based outreach programs and organizations in the State.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments require the New Jersey Maternal Infant Health Innovation Authority, in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services, to establish the public awareness campaign provided under the bill.  As introduced, the bill required the Commissioner of Human Services to establish the public awareness campaign in consultation with the Commissioner of Health.

      The committee amendments clarify that the scope of the public awareness campaign will include information about the benefits of doulas and midwife services.

      The committee amendments revise the requirements of the public awareness campaign.

      The committee amendments provide that the President and Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Maternal Infant Health Innovation Authority, instead of the Commissioner of Health, will be responsible for the development of printed and electronic educational materials related to the public awareness campaign in additional languages as required under current law, and for making those materials available for download and distribution.

      The committee amendments revise the bill's effective date to the first day of the third month next following the date of enactment.  As introduced, the provisions of the bill were to take effect immediately.

      The committee amendments revise the bill's title and synopsis to reflect these changes.

      The committee amendments make various technical changes concerning citation and punctuation.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that State costs will increase by $100,000 annually for the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority to establish a public awareness campaign, consisting of print and electronic materials, to educate the public regarding the benefits of doula and midwife services.

      Estimated costs are comparable to annual State costs between FY 2023 and FY 2025 for the Department of Health’s stillbirth prevention public health campaign, which also utilizes print and electronic media to provide information targeted to pregnant persons.