Committee narrows midwifery bill, adds sentinel-event reporting and oversight

Lawmakers amended and advanced HB2251, a bill that would authorize licensed midwives with specified pharmacology training to dispense and administer certain medications and require reporting and oversight reforms.

Committee staff and the sponsor described significant stakeholder engagement with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Arizona Medical Association and the Arizona Nurses Association. The Bliss amendment (02/12/2026 06:50PM) narrowed the medications list, clarified that required pharmacology continuing-education units are in addition to initial certification requirements, expanded advisory-committee membership to include two physicians and strengthened sentinel-event review duties, and streamlined birth-reporting formats.

The sponsor framed the changes as a compromise aligning Arizona practice with national safety standards and adding public accountability. Committee members noted the amendment retains the Jordan and MacTerry Act naming in honor of two maternal cases and emphasized that sentinel-event reports will remain immediate and not replaced by annual reporting.

After amendment adoption by voice, the committee voted to return HB2251 as amended with a due-pass recommendation (11 ayes, 1 nay). Members signaled ongoing stakeholder engagement around fine points of medication lists, transfer triggers after administration of anti-hemorrhagic meds, and advisory-committee appointments.