Ways to Ensure Newborns and Their Moms Have Bright Futures

Ways to Ensure Newborns and Their Moms Have Bright Futures

In new bills this year, lawmakers are linking resources across health systems to create a continuity of care and reduce maternal mortality.

Many legislatures continue to prioritize the health of new moms and their kids, with lawmakers enacting at least 185 bills on maternal and child health in at least 40 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. territories in 2025. (martin-dm/Getty Images)

While state policy priorities shift from year to year in response to federal changes, budget constraints and competing demands, many legislatures continue to prioritize the health of mothers and children. Lawmakers enacted at least 185 bills on maternal and child health in at least 40 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. territories in 2025.

This year, states considered ways to link nonmedical drivers of health-such as nutrition and education access-to broader support systems including social services and education. State lawmakers also addressed key contributors to maternal mortality, workforce shortages in maternity care deserts, and the mental and physical well-being of children and youth.

Partnerships in Prevention

For years, researchers have highlighted the serious health impacts to individuals and communities lacking social and economic supports, such as stable housing, nutrition and access to health care. In response to these challenges, state legislatures are braiding and blending resources across systems-aligning funding and ensuring continuity of care where possible to improve maternal and child health.

Connecticut lawmakers and the governor enacted three bills (SB 1, HB 5003 and HB 7288) that together expand access to early childhood education and health services. The bills will establish an early childhood education endowment to expand no-cost access for families enrolled in Early Start CT; create a single, real-time portal for families to enroll in early childhood programs; and launch a child care facilities grant program to support the construction and renovation of licensed child care centers, group child care homes and family child care homes.

A new Louisiana law to "promote practices that improve maternal and child health outcomes" requires health plans to include coverage and reimbursement for optional home visiting services. This benefit includes at least one visit within a newborn's first three months of life, with the option for families to receive follow-up visits.

Oklahoma directed the Department of Human Services to explore ways to streamline eligibility and enrollment processes for public assistance programs, including but not limited to Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, WIC and energy assistance.

Expanding Maternal Health Care

State legislators continue to prioritize the issue of pregnancy-related deaths, more than 80% of which are preventable. Enacted bills addressed data systems, access to maternal mental health services, maternal mortality review committees and care reimbursement models.

Arizona established a maternal mortality review committee, and Georgia enhanced its committee's authority to evaluate the incidence, causes and preventability of pregnancy-associated deaths. Both states empower their committees to gather data, including access to patient records from a variety of providers-an approach recognized as a best practice by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Connecticut and Arkansas passed comprehensive legislation supporting prenatal and postpartum care through Medicaid, integrating doulas and community health workers into the care teams, and creating or modifying reimbursement models for care. Both states aim to strengthen maternal health infrastructure and address maternal mortality contributors, such as maternal mental health, through data-informed policy design.

Maternal Health Workforce

New laws in New York, Tennessee and Texas reflect a broader goal of strengthening maternal health outcomes through access to nonclinical services, enhanced provider training and stronger oversight.

• New York ensured patients have access to a doula during childbirth in hospitals and birthing centers.
• Tennessee will offer continuing education on maternal mental health for certain medical providers.
• Texas authorized Medicaid reimbursement for lactation consultants and established a confidential maternal mortality data registry and reporting system.

These new laws are part of widespread state-level efforts to improve maternal outcomes through both medical and nonmedical interventions.

Children's Mental Health and Nutrition

For several years, policymakers have prioritized the mental health needs of young people through both prevention and treatment strategies. This year, policymakers are advancing strategies that bridge mental and physical health in schools, early childhood systems and cross-sector collaborations.

Strong infant and early childhood mental health enables young children to form secure relationships, regulate emotions and actively engage with their environment. Research shows emotional and behavioral dysregulation can significantly hinder a child's ability to achieve long-term mental and physical well-being-and often will not improve without appropriate intervention and support.

Virginia and Maryland enhanced early childhood mental health services this year through collaborative planning and stakeholder engagement. Virginia lawmakers directed the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Education to convene a work group on mental health screening and assessment tools for children up to 5 years old. The work group will also address mental health training and consultation resources for early childhood education providers, pediatric health care providers and families. The group is required to report its findings and recommendations by Nov. 1.

Similarly, Maryland lawmakers required the behavioral health advisory council and the commission on behavioral health care treatment and access to recommend ways to provide early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment services for children with behavioral health challenges.

State legislatures continue to recognize the education system-especially in-school services and supports-as a vital partner in addressing child and youth mental and physical health. In 2025, many states expanded these in-school services, with a focus on strengthening mental health supports for students.

Georgia and Nebraska passed legislation to increase students' access to in-school counseling by joining the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists. Specifically, Georgia established a commission to oversee licensure reciprocity, streamline cross-state credentialing and help address shortages of school psychologists. Similarly, Nebraska adopted plans to enable out-of-state school psychologists licensed in member states to practice more easily within Nebraska.

Suicide prevention through education, training and collaboration was the focus of legislation in Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska and Virginia.

• Kentucky established a statewide youth suicide prevention program that emphasizes collaboration among state agencies, schools and community organizations.
• Maryland amended its youth suicide prevention school program to include education on the links between youth gambling and suicide risk, and to increase referrals to support services.
• Nebraska and Virginia added youth suicide awareness and prevention training for agencies and schools interacting with higher-risk children.

Emerging Policy Areas

Emerging policy areas this year include artificial intelligence in health education and meals provided in schools.

A new Nevada law prohibits public schools, charter schools and universities from using AI to perform the mental health-related duties of school counselors, psychologists or social workers. Meanwhile, the state Education Department must develop policies for the appropriate use of AI for school counselors, psychologists and social workers.

Child nutrition policy received increased attention at both the national and state levels this year. As of August, lawmakers in 15 states enacted at least 25 bills related to child nutrition. Legislatures in Hawaii, Virginia and Oklahoma considered bills on the cost of school meals, school meal nutrition standards and increasing nutrition access.

For more on the bills cited in this article, see NCSL's Maternal and Child Health Legislative Database.

Tammy Hill is a project manager in NCSL's Health Program.

This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of an award totaling $400,000 with 100% funded by HRSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. government.