Senate Bill 514 (2026) — Doula Support for Healthy Births pilot program
SB 514
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 514 By Senator Osgood 32-00380C-26 2026514__ Page 1 of 9 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Doula Support for Healthy 2 Births pilot program; creating s. 383.295, F.S.; 3 defining terms; establishing the pilot program in 4 Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties for a 5 specified purpose; providing the purpose of the pilot 6 program; requiring the Department of Health, in 7 collaboration with its maternal and child health 8 section, to implement and oversee the pilot program; 9 specifying the duration of the pilot program, subject 10 to funding; requiring the pilot program to target 11 specified populations for enrollment; specifying 12 services that must be provided under the pilot 13 program; requiring the department to collaborate with 14 specified entities to integrate doula services into 15 existing maternal health programs and facilitate 16 outreach and service delivery; authorizing the 17 department to integrate doula services into existing 18 maternal and child health programs as an expansion of 19 the pilot program, subject to certain requirements; 20 providing for funding of the pilot program; creating 21 the Doula Certification Task Force within the 22 department for a specified purpose; requiring the 23 department to oversee and provide administrative 24 support to the task force; providing for membership 25 and meetings of the task force; specifying duties of 26 the task force; requiring the task force to submit a 27 final report of its findings and recommendations to 28 the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; 29
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 514 32-00380C-26 2026514__ Page 2 of 9 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. providing for expiration of the task force; providing 30 an effective date. 31 32 WHEREAS, preterm birth is defined as a live birth before 37 33 completed weeks of gestation and is associated with increased 34 morbidities or ailments, such as cerebral palsy, breathing 35 difficulties, feeding problems, developmental delay, and vision 36 and hearing problems, and 37 WHEREAS, preterm labor occurs when regular contractions 38 cause the cervix to open between 20 and 37 weeks of gestation, 39 which can result in a baby being born before 37 weeks of 40 gestation, and the earlier the delivery, the greater the health 41 risks for the baby, requiring special care in a neonatal 42 intensive care unit and potentially causing long-term mental and 43 physical health concerns, and 44 WHEREAS, Florida’s preterm birth rate has risen annually 45 since 2014 to its current average rate of 10.9 percent, higher 46 than the national average of 10.5 percent, and 47 WHEREAS, Florida ranks among the highest in the nation for 48 infant mortality, with a rate of 5.9 deaths per 1,000 births, 49 higher than the national average of 5.4 deaths per 1,000 births, 50 and 51 WHEREAS, Florida also has one of the highest cesarean 52 delivery rates in the nation at 37.4 percent, compared to the 53 national average of 31.8 percent, with cesarean delivery being 54 associated with increased risks to infants, including 55 respiratory distress, infection, and long-term health 56 complications, and 57 WHEREAS, maternal mortality is defined as the annual number 58
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 514 32-00380C-26 2026514__ Page 3 of 9 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. of female deaths from any cause related to or aggravated by 59 pregnancy or its management, excluding accidental or incidental 60 causes, during pregnancy and childbirth or within 42 days after 61 termination of a pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and 62 site of the pregnancy, and 63 WHEREAS, Florida ranks 17th in the nation with a maternal 64 mortality rate of 26.3 deaths per 100,000 births, compared to a 65 national rate of 23.2 deaths per 100,000 births, and 66 WHEREAS, Broward County has a maternal mortality rate of 67 24.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, and an infant mortality 68 rate of 5 deaths per 1,000 live births, and 69 WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County has a maternal mortality rate of 70 20.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, and an infant mortality 71 rate of 4.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, and 72 WHEREAS, Palm Beach County has a maternal mortality rate of 73 33.2 deaths per 100,000 live births, and an infant mortality 74 rate of 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, and 75 WHEREAS, continued perinatal support, including the 76 services provided by trained doulas, is associated with reduced 77 rates of cesarean delivery and improved birth outcomes, and 78 WHEREAS, Florida has ongoing challenges related to child 79 safety and welfare, with statistics showing disparities in 80 health and safety outcomes for children across racial and 81 socioeconomic groups, and 82 WHEREAS, doula care is the continuous, one-to-one 83 emotional, informational, and physical support provided by a 84 trained nonmedical professional to pregnant women and their 85 families during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, and 86 WHEREAS, while doulas do not perform medical tasks, they 87
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 514 32-00380C-26 2026514__ Page 4 of 9 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. provide an array of educational and support services throughout 88 the birthing process to ensure that the mother has a positive 89 and empowering experience, including, but not limited to, 90 educational resources and information about pregnancy, 91 childbirth, and postpartum care; assistance in creating a birth 92 plan; continuous emotional support during labor and delivery; 93 assistance with breathing techniques, relaxation, and 94 positioning during labor; massage and counterpressure measures; 95 facilitation of communication with medical staff; advocacy in 96 and navigation of the medical setting; and postpartum support 97 with newborn care and feeding, and 98 WHEREAS, evidence-based support provided by trained doulas 99 has been shown to enhance birth experiences, reduce cesarean 100 deliveries, and improve overall health outcomes for mothers and 101 infants, and 102 WHEREAS, the state has a compelling interest in improving 103 maternal and infant outcomes through increased access to high-104 quality doula services, NOW, THEREFORE, 105 106 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 107 108
Section
Section 383.295, Florida Statutes, is created to 109 read: 110 383.295 Doulas.— 111
(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 112 (a) “Department” means the Department of Health. 113 (b) “Doula” means a nonmedical professional who provides 114 health education, advocacy, and physical, emotional, and 115 nonmedical support for pregnant and postpartum women before, 116
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 514 32-00380C-26 2026514__ Page 5 of 9 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. during, and after childbirth, including support during 117 miscarriage and stillbirth. Doulas are not clinical providers 118 and are not licensed. 119 (c) “Doula services” means the provision of physical, 120 emotional, and informational support by a nonmedical 121 professional to a pregnant woman during the prenatal, 122 intrapartum, and postpartum periods.
Activities may include 123 childbirth education, labor support, postpartum recovery 124 support, assistance with infant care, lactation support, and 125 connection to community resources. 126 (d) “Evidence-based” means a process in which decisions are 127 made and actions or activities are carried out, based on the 128 best evidence available, with the goal of removing subjective 129 opinion, unfounded beliefs, or bias from decisions and actions. 130 Such evidence may include practitioner experience and expertise 131 as well as feedback from other practitioners and beneficiaries. 132
(2) PILOT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.— 133 (
a) The Doula Support for Healthy Births pilot program is 134 established in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties to 135 integrate doula services into existing maternal health 136 initiatives, targeting pregnant and postpartum women who have 137 overcome or are overcoming substance use disorders. 138 (
b) The purpose of the pilot program is to improve birth 139 outcomes by decreasing preterm birth rates and cesarean 140 deliveries, enhancing access to care, and supporting maternal 141 well-being throughout the pregnancy, labor, and postpartum 142 periods using evidence-based methods. 143 (
c) The Department of Health, through its maternal and 144 child health section, shall implement and oversee the pilot 145
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 514 32-00380C-26 2026514__ Page 6 of 9 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. program. 146
(3) PROGRAM STRUCTURE.— 147 (
a) The pilot program may operate for 12 to 24 months, 148 subject to funding. 149 (
b) The pilot program shall target the enrollment of 150 pregnant and postpartum women who have overcome or are 151 overcoming substance use disorders. 152 (
c) The following support services must be offered under 153 the pilot program: 154 1. Prenatal support, such as educational resources, 155 personalized birth plans, and emotional support. 156 2. Labor support, such as continuous emotional support, 157 comfort measures, and communication facilitation. 158 3. Postpartum support, such as assistance with newborn 159 care, postpartum resources, and household tasks. 160 4. Advocacy support, such as assistance with preferences 161 and needs within medical settings and health care navigation. 162 5. Comprehensive emotional support during the pregnancy and 163 postpartum periods. 164
(4) COLLABORATION; INTEGRATION.— 165 (
a) The department shall collaborate with: 166 1. Health care providers, community organizations, 167 community coalitions, and advocacy groups to integrate doulas 168 and doula services into existing maternal health programs, 169 ensuring that such doulas are trained and meet all of the 170 following criteria: 171 a. Demonstrate a strong understanding of the reproductive 172 system, labor process, and postpartum recovery. 173 b. Are proficient in hands-on techniques, such as massage, 174
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 514 32-00380C-26 2026514__ Page 7 of 9 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. counterpressure, breathing exercises, and nonmedicated pain 175 management. 176 c. Support a client’s birth plan, communicate effectively 177 with medical staff, and advocate for informed consent. 178 d. Provide guidance on breastfeeding, basic newborn care, 179 and both the physical and emotional aspects of postpartum 180 recovery. 181 e. Use active listening, clear communication, and conflict 182 resolution skills in interactions with clients and health care 183 providers. 184 f.
Understand common medical complications and provide 185 emotional and physical support to clients in challenging 186 situations. 187 g. Uphold professionalism, ethical decisionmaking, and 188 legal responsibilities in doula practice. 189 2. Local WIC programs, hospitals, birth centers, and 190 community health centers to facilitate outreach and service 191 delivery. 192 (
b) The department may integrate doula services into 193 existing maternal and child health programs as an expansion of 194 the pilot program, focusing on pregnant and postpartum women who 195 have overcome or are overcoming substance use disorders. Any 196 such expansion of the pilot program must include annual 197 reporting requirements for the department to evaluate 198 effectiveness, equity, and quality of integrating doula services 199 into the existing maternal and child health programs. 200
(5) FUNDING.—The pilot program shall be funded using 201 appropriations for the Closing the Gap grant program established 202 under ss. 381.7351-381.7356. The department shall coordinate 203
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 514 32-00380C-26 2026514__ Page 8 of 9 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. with its Division of Community Health Promotion and Office of 204 Minority Health and Health Equity to seek additional federal 205 funds to support implementation. 206
Section 2. Doula Certification Task Force.— 207
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is created within the Department 208 of Health the Doula Certification Task Force, a task force as 209 defined in s. 20.03(5), Florida Statutes, for the purpose of 210 reviewing the scope of doula services and ensuring competency, 211 quality, and consistency in the delivery of doula services to 212 pregnant and postpartum women. 213
(2) OVERSIGHT.—The Department of Health shall oversee and 214 provide administrative support to the task force. 215
(3) MEMBERSHIP; MEETINGS.— 216 (
a) The task force shall be composed of nine members. Three 217 members shall be appointed by the Governor, three members shall 218 be appointed by the Senate President, and three members shall be 219 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Of the 220 nine members, two members must be health care practitioners as 221 defined in s. 456.001, Florida Statutes, experienced in caring 222 for pregnant or postpartum women, and at least one member must 223 be a doula or otherwise have experience providing nonmedical 224 support services to pregnant or postpartum women.
A vacancy on 225 the task force must be filled in the same manner as the original 226 appointment. The task force shall elect a chair from among its 227 members. 228 (
b) The task force shall meet as often as necessary to 229 complete its work, but at least quarterly, at the call of the 230 chair. The task force may conduct its meetings through 231 teleconference or other similar electronic means. 232
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(4) DUTIES.—The task force shall do all of the following: 233 (
a) Review the scope of practice for doulas in this state, 234 as well as in other states. 235 (
b) Establish core competencies for the provision of doula 236 services. 237 (
c) Recommend minimum certification standards for doulas, 238 which must include, but need not be limited to, all of the 239 following: 240 1. Possession of a high school diploma or its equivalent. 241 2. Completion of a department-approved, evidence-based 242 training program. 243 3. A minimum number of supervised practice hours. 244 4. Completion of a background screening. 245 5. Education in professional ethics. 246
(5) REPORT.—By January 1, 2028, the task force shall submit 247 a final report of its findings and recommendations to the 248 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the 249 House of Representatives. 250
(6) SUNSET.—The task force shall operate on a temporary 251 basis in conjunction with the Doula Support for Healthy Births 252 pilot program established under s. 383.295, Florida Statutes, as 253 created by this act, and shall expire on October 2, 2029, in 254 accordance with s. 20.052(8), Florida Statutes. 255