AB-836
Health & Public Health

Midwifery Workforce Training Act.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Mandates a comprehensive statewide study to evaluate and expand midwifery education programs in California.
  • Requires assessment of funding resources, student debt, and financial sustainability of midwifery programs.
  • Aims to develop strategies for diversifying the midwifery workforce in rural and urban areas.
  • Directs the state to publish findings within 36 months of receiving funding.

Summary

Assembly Member Stefani's Midwifery Workforce Training Act directs the Department of Health Care Access and Information to commission a comprehensive study examining California's midwifery education landscape, pending legislative appropriation. The study aims to address the state's shortage of midwifery training programs, with only one program currently accepting students.

The legislation requires an external consultant to evaluate multiple aspects of midwifery education, including current trends, financial sustainability, student debt levels, and pathways to diversify the student pipeline. The consultant must also identify potential institutions to house new programs, assess clinical training site availability, and examine opportunities for interprofessional education between midwives and resident obstetricians. The study will analyze both rural and urban program viability while exploring consortium models that allow students to complete training in their local communities.

Under the bill's provisions, the department must submit findings to the Legislature and publish the report on its website within 36 months of receiving funding. The study's scope encompasses the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare professionals, defined to include medical doctors, licensed midwives, certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physician assistants, doulas, licensed vocational nurses, and perinatal community health workers.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Health Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Health Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 836 Stefani Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Mia BontaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Matt HaneyD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Dawn AddisD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Pilar SchiavoD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Michelle RodriguezD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Catherine StefaniD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Catherine Stefani
Catherine StefaniD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Authors
Matt Haney
Matt HaneyD
California State Assembly Member
Mia Bonta
Mia BontaD
California State Assembly Member
Dawn Addis
Dawn AddisD
California State Assembly Member
Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
California State Assembly Member
Josh Becker
Josh BeckerD
California State Senator
Michelle Rodriguez
Michelle RodriguezD
California State Assembly Member
Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
California State Senator
Gail Pellerin
Gail PellerinD
California State Assembly Member
Pilar Schiavo
Pilar SchiavoD
California State Assembly Member
Aisha Wahab
Aisha WahabD
California State Senator
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Latest Voting History

August 18, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Mandates a comprehensive statewide study to evaluate and expand midwifery education programs in California.
  • Requires assessment of funding resources, student debt, and financial sustainability of midwifery programs.
  • Aims to develop strategies for diversifying the midwifery workforce in rural and urban areas.
  • Directs the state to publish findings within 36 months of receiving funding.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Catherine Stefani
Catherine StefaniD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Authors
Matt Haney
Matt HaneyD
California State Assembly Member
Mia Bonta
Mia BontaD
California State Assembly Member
Dawn Addis
Dawn AddisD
California State Assembly Member
Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
California State Assembly Member
Josh Becker
Josh BeckerD
California State Senator
Michelle Rodriguez
Michelle RodriguezD
California State Assembly Member
Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
California State Senator
Gail Pellerin
Gail PellerinD
California State Assembly Member
Pilar Schiavo
Pilar SchiavoD
California State Assembly Member
Aisha Wahab
Aisha WahabD
California State Senator

Summary

Assembly Member Stefani's Midwifery Workforce Training Act directs the Department of Health Care Access and Information to commission a comprehensive study examining California's midwifery education landscape, pending legislative appropriation. The study aims to address the state's shortage of midwifery training programs, with only one program currently accepting students.

The legislation requires an external consultant to evaluate multiple aspects of midwifery education, including current trends, financial sustainability, student debt levels, and pathways to diversify the student pipeline. The consultant must also identify potential institutions to house new programs, assess clinical training site availability, and examine opportunities for interprofessional education between midwives and resident obstetricians. The study will analyze both rural and urban program viability while exploring consortium models that allow students to complete training in their local communities.

Under the bill's provisions, the department must submit findings to the Legislature and publish the report on its website within 36 months of receiving funding. The study's scope encompasses the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare professionals, defined to include medical doctors, licensed midwives, certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physician assistants, doulas, licensed vocational nurses, and perinatal community health workers.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Health Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Health Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 836 Stefani Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

August 18, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Cecilia Aguiar-CurryD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Mia BontaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Matt HaneyD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Dawn AddisD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Pilar SchiavoD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Michelle RodriguezD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Catherine StefaniD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member