Healthcare (Women's Health)

To amend sections 3125.18, 5101.35, 5101.80, 5101.801, 5101.804, 5101.805, and 5153.16 and to amend, for the purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses, section 5101.804 (5101.91) of the Revised Code regarding services provided through the Ohio parenting and pregnancy program.

To enact sections 341.28, 753.34, and 5120.6511 of the Revised Code to require all inmate pregnancy outcomes to be reported to the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

SB 140 defines "freestanding birthing center" as a facility providing low-risk pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care without hospital licensing. It requires all such centers to have a written plan for transferring patients to a hospital during complications. Accredited centers (by the Commission for Accreditation of Birth Centers) are exempt from needing a formal hospital transfer agreement, while non-accredited centers must establish one with a local hospital. The bill, introduced in 2025, would affect birthing centers and their patients by setting specific operational standards for emergency transfers.

HCR 12 is a House Concurrent Resolution that formally recognizes the importance of perinatal mental health. This resolution serves to acknowledge the significance of mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

SB 267 designates the week including March 22nd as "Ohio Doula Awareness Week" in the Revised Code. This bill creates a ceremonial observance to highlight the role of doulas in maternal care within Ohio. It does not create new laws, funding, or direct obligations; it simply establishes a designated week for awareness. The bill directly affects Ohio residents by formally recognizing doulas' contributions to pregnancy and birth support through this annual observance.