Giving birth as a Black woman can be a gamble with life. State of Michigan data shows Black mothers face a maternal mortality rate of 36.5 deaths per 100,000 live births. That figure is more than twice the rate for white women. In Detroit, the risk intensifies. The maternal death rate in the city is triple the national average, and pregnant Black women are 4.5 times more likely to die than their white counterparts. These disparities have never been about biology. They are deeply rooted in systemic neglect, structural racism, and a health care system that often treats Black pain as peripheral.
On the heels of these numbers, Michigan’s Senate moved to confront the crisis with a legislative package known as the Momnibus. Senate Bills 29 through 34 and 36 through 39 offer a comprehensive policy response to the maternal health inequities that Black and Brown communities in Michigan face every day. The package, written and championed by women of color in the state legislature, offers a model that centers lived experience and affirms the need for real systemic accountability.
Senator Erika Geiss, one of the lead sponsors, spoke plainly about the impact. “Today’s Senate passage of Momnibus is one step forward in our longstanding fight for reproductive and obstetric justice and equity for Black and Brown families here in Michigan,” she said. “This commonsense legislation paves the way for positive pregnancy and birthing experiences rooted in empowerment, love, and joy. As a mom and policymaker, I’m proud to continue leading this effort to help protect Black and Brown mamas and babies from systemic injustices that have disproportionately harmed our communities for far too long.”
The bill package reflects the priorities of mothers, doulas, midwives, and reproductive justice advocates who have demanded legislative action for years. Each measure is designed to target a piece of the systemic puzzle. Senate Bill 29 directs the Department of Health and Human Services to publish reports on biased and unjust perinatal care. Senate Bill 30 establishes a reporting tool for obstetric racism. These are not symbolic gestures. They are accountability tools designed to validate the voices of women too often ignored or dismissed.
Senator Mary Cavanagh introduced two key bills within the package. One requires hospitals to demonstrate they have policies that protect the rights of laboring patients to have a support person, such as a doula or spouse, present. The other pushes for transparency from malpractice insurers on their perinatal care coverage. “Everyone deserves access to a safe, affirming pregnancy and birthing experience,” she said. “As the youngest female Senator, I’m proud to be a part of this historic effort to dismantle systemic inequities that have historically worked against the health and well-being of Black and Brown families. Let’s get this across the finish line for the betterment of Michigan’s moms and babies.”
Senator Sarah Anthony’s legislation ensures that pregnancy does not strip someone of the right to appoint a patient advocate. Her other bill incorporates licensed midwives into Michigan’s Essential Health Provider Repayment program, a move meant to bolster access to culturally competent care. “For too long, Black mothers have faced a health care system that addresses their pain last, their needs too late, and fails to prevent the tragedies we know are avoidable,” Anthony said. “This package is a direct response to that truth — it brings us one step closer toward a future where every mother receives the care she deserves.”
Meanwhile, Senator Stephanie Chang’s amendment to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act expands protections against discrimination to include pregnancy and lactation status in public spaces and the workplace. “Black expectant moms and all moms deserve a health care system that truly sees, hears, and understands their needs. Lactating moms deserve protections for their rights and the health of their babies,” she said. “I’m proud that the Michigan Momnibus package received bipartisan support last term, and I’m excited that these bills are now one step closer to the finish line.”
Senator Sylvia Santana followed suit with provisions expanding Medicaid coverage and mandating private insurer reimbursement for licensed midwifery care. “Black and Brown mothers are no different than white mothers, yet the care they receive is too often inequitable and inadequate. In 2025, that is wholly and completely unacceptable,” Santana said. “We owe it to the countless mothers we’ve lost to fix a system that has failed them for far too long. This legislation is a bold and necessary step toward justice — one that affirms that every mother, regardless of race or background, deserves to survive childbirth and thrive beyond it.”
The impact of these measures cannot be overstated. Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in Michigan. For Black women, the percentage is even higher. Expanding Medicaid to include off-site ultrasounds and fetal nonstress tests — as laid out in Senate Bill 39 — makes critical diagnostic care more accessible. Senate Bill 36 amends the Public Health Code to support midwifery education and retention. Senate Bill 37 compels insurers to reimburse licensed midwives. Senate Bill 38 opens the door for broader Medicaid coverage of gynecological services.
The Momnibus is the product of community-rooted advocacy. Cassy Jones-McBryde, policy lead for the Michigan State of Birth Justice Coalition and founder of the Michigan Chamber for Reproductive Justice, said, “The Michigan Momnibus reflects years of advocacy, research, and lived experience brought forward by our coalition. During Black Maternal Health Week, this full Senate vote is especially meaningful. It shows that when we center community voices — especially those most impacted — we can create bold, life-affirming policy. We’re proud to have helped shape this legislation and will continue to push for a future where maternal health is treated with the urgency, equity, and dignity it deserves.”
Elon Geffrard of Birth Detroit pointed to the long-term implications. “The Michigan Momnibus is one step closer to actualizing what every mother deserves: safety, respect, care, and support. No mother should have to advocate for their rights to these things,” she said. “Through the Michigan Momnibus package of bills, we are able to lead the way in increasing access to midwives and doulas, making Michigan a safer, more caring place to give birth and raise your family, regardless of your race or economic status.”
The legislation now moves to the House.
Every mother deserves to be met with care. Every birth deserves to be protected. And every life deserves to begin without fear of avoidable loss. Michigan has a path forward. The question now is whether the House, and the broader system surrounding it, will walk it.
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