AN ACT to establish the midwifery education grant program for constituent institutions of the university of north carolina and to appropriate funds for that purpose.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

part i. midwifery education grant program

SECTION 1.(a)  Program; Purpose. – There is established the Midwifery Education Grant Program (Program) for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year. The purpose of the Program is to increase the number of midwives and midwife training programs in the State to support increased prenatal, natal, and postnatal services for women and families in North Carolina.

SECTION 1.(b)  Definitions. – For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)        Eligible constituent institution. – A constituent institution of The University of North Carolina that meets both of the following criteria:

a.         Has an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) degree program.

b.         Does not have an eligible midwife training program.

(2)        Eligible midwife training program. – A midwife training program that provides a certified nurse‑midwife (CNM) credential.

(3)        HBCU. – A constituent institution of higher education that is a historically black college or university or a historically minority‑serving institution of higher education.

(4)        Partner hospital. – A hospital located in this State that has an established program to allow certified nurse‑midwives to deliver children in the hospital.

(5)        Program. – The Midwifery Education Grant Program established in this section.

(6)        System Office. – The University of North Carolina System Office.

SECTION 1.(c)  Eligibility. – Any eligible constituent institution of The University of North Carolina may apply to The University of North Carolina System Office for a grant to establish an eligible midwife program under the Program.

SECTION 1.(d)  Applications; Criteria and Guidelines. – No later than September 30, 2026, the System Office shall develop and publish criteria and guidelines for the application process for the Program, including any documentation required to be submitted by the eligible constituent institutions. The System Office shall accept applications until December 31, 2026. Applications shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

(1)        Evidence that the applicant has or will establish a relationship with a partner hospital.

(2)        A proposed budget for the eligible midwife training program.

(3)        A plan to graduate at least 20 certified nurse‑midwives by the fifth year of operation of the eligible midwife training program.

(4)        A time line to establish the eligible midwife training program, including the academic year in which the program would begin enrolling students.

SECTION 1.(e)  Award and Priority. – Grant awards shall not exceed four million dollars ($4,000,000) per eligible constituent institution, and the System Office shall award grants to selected applicants by March 15, 2027. In awarding grants to eligible constituent institutions under the Program, the System Office shall make every effort to ensure that grant recipients are representative of the geographical diversity of the State and shall prioritize awards to eligible constituent institutions that meet one or more of the following criteria, with more criteria resulting in greater priority:

(1)        Are HBCUs.

(2)        Are located near a partner hospital.

(3)        Have a plan to establish an eligible midwife training program as soon as practicable and not later than the 2029‑2030 academic year.

SECTION 1.(f)  Use of Funds. – Grant funds awarded under the Program may be used for any of the following purposes related to the establishment of an eligible midwife training program:

(1)        Faculty and staff.

(2)        Additional nurse preceptors for the APRN degree program at the eligible constituent institution.

(3)        Other expenses necessary to establishing an eligible midwife training program.

SECTION 1.(g)  Report. – No later than October 15, 2027, and annually thereafter until all eligible constituent institutions receiving funds have expended those funds, the System Office shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division on the following information related to the Program:

(1)        Number and amount of grants awarded.

(2)        Identities of eligible constituent institutions receiving grants.

(3)        Identities of eligible constituent institutions that applied for grants but did not receive one.

(4)        Estimated time lines to establish eligible midwife training programs as a result of grants received under the Program.

(5)        Any other matter the System Office deems relevant.

part ii. appropriation

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026‑2027 fiscal year to be allocated to The University of North Carolina System Office to provide grants to constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina to establish eligible midwifery programs in accordance with Section 1 of this act. These funds shall not revert at the end of the 2026‑2027 fiscal year but shall remain available until expended.

part iii. effective date

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2026.