Bill Sponsors
Carson, Cortvriend, Edwards, and McGaw
Committee
House Finance
Summary
Select
This bill creates the Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund to financially support the birthing center at Newport Hospital. For the 2027 fiscal year, the state will provide $1.63 million to the fund, provided that Brown Health and private donors each match that amount. To receive these funds, the hospital must maintain 24/7 labor and delivery services without reducing care, ensure sufficient nurse staffing, provide regular financial reports, hold an annual public meeting, and work with a community council to create a long-term plan for the facility.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Ensures continued access to critical maternal and infant healthcare services in the local community, preventing patients from having to travel long distances for safe deliveries.
- Mandates safe staffing levels for nurses and 24/7 availability of obstetric services, prioritizing patient safety and supporting healthcare workers over corporate cost-cutting measures.
- Requires strict accountability and transparency from the healthcare provider, including public financial reporting, annual open meetings, and active community council participation.
Cons for Progressives
- Relies heavily on private philanthropic donations to trigger state funding, making essential maternal healthcare services dependent on the charity of wealthy donors rather than guaranteed public funding.
- Channels public tax dollars into a facility owned by a massive private healthcare network (Brown Health), effectively subsidizing a corporate entity instead of building a public clinic.
- Focuses solely on one specific geographic area (Newport County), potentially ignoring maternal healthcare deserts or underfunded birthing centers in marginalized communities across the state.
Pros for Conservatives
- Leverages private and philanthropic funds to share the financial burden, ensuring the state does not shoulder the entire cost of the healthcare program.
- Imposes strict conditional requirements on the state funding, ensuring taxpayer money is only spent if specific operational, financial, and matching-fund metrics are successfully met.
- Supports the traditional family unit by ensuring local facilities are available for mothers to safely give birth and care for infants within their own communities.
Cons for Conservatives
- Spends over $1.6 million in taxpayer money to subsidize a private healthcare operation, expanding government spending and intervention in the free market.
- Imposes heavy regulatory burdens on the hospital as a condition of funding, dictating specific staffing levels, service offerings, and operational decisions that should be left to private business management.
- Mandates the creation of community councils and public oversight meetings, which forces private healthcare providers to answer to local activists and politicians.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely. The bill simply establishes a state fund, conditionally appropriates money, and regulates the use of those public funds by a private entity. It does not appear to infringe upon free speech, due process, or protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Pregnant women
- Infants
- Newport County residents
- Obstetric physicians
- Certified nurses
Towns Affected
Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Jamestown, Little Compton, Tiverton
Cost to Taxpayers
$1.05 per taxpayer
Revenue Generated
None
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
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Public Services
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Regulatory
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Clarity of Bill Language
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Environmental Impact
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 04/29/2026 Introduced, referred to House Finance
• 05/08/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/12/2026)
• 05/12/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
• 05/08/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/12/2026)
• 05/12/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Bill Text
SECTION 1. The general assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Access to high-quality maternal and infant health care services is essential to the health and well-being of families in Newport County and across Rhode Island.
(2) The Newport Hospital birthing center provides critical, community-based maternity care, reducing the need for patients to travel off-island for services.
(3) The preservation and long-term sustainability of birthing services require coordinated public, private, and philanthropic investment.
(4) It is in the public interest to establish a dedicated fund to support the continued operation and improvement of the birthing center.
(5) The birthing center is an owned entity of Lifespan Physician Group, Inc., operating as Brown University Health, but it is also a community resource and should be treated that way.
Therefore, the purpose of this act is to establish the Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund to provide immediate and sustainable financial support for the operation of the birthing center.
SECTION 2. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: CHAPTER 13.9 THE NOREEN DREXEL BIRTHING CENTER FUND
23-13.9-1. Title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund Act.”
23-13.9-2. Establishment of the fund.
(a) There is hereby established within the department of health a restricted receipt account to be known as the “Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund,” hereinafter referred to as the “fund.”
(b) The fund shall be administered by the department of health in collaboration with the Newport Hospital Foundation.
(c) Monies in the fund shall be used exclusively to support the continued operation, staffing, and enhancement of birthing services at Newport Hospital or any successor entity providing equivalent services in Newport County.
23-13.9-3. Funding.
(a) For fiscal year 2027, the total appropriation from the state to the fund shall be one million six hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty-three dollars ($1,633,333), which appropriation shall be conditional upon the following.
(1) A deposit of one million six hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty-three dollars ($1,633,333), derived from Brown Health or its successor entity is provided to the fund; and
(2) Deposit(s) totaling one million six hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty- three dollars ($1,633,333), derived from philanthropic contributions including, but not limited to, donations from individuals, foundations, and community organizations is provided to the fund.
(b) The Newport Hospital Foundation is authorized to deposit philanthropic contributions into the fund and under the authorization of the department of health may receive funding to effectuate the purpose of § 23-13.9-2(c).
23-13.9-4. Conditions and accountability.
(a) Brown Health or its operating entity shall be eligible for funds pursuant to this chapter provided they maintain:
(1) Birthing services at Newport Hospital for the duration of the funding period;
(2) Continuous, year-round operation of inpatient labor and delivery services at Newport Hospital, without seasonal, or unreasonable intermittent, or temporary suspension;
(3) Twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7)-day-per-week availability of hospital-based obstetric services, including on-site or immediately available obstetric physicians;
(4) Certified nurse staffing levels sufficient to support safe and timely deliveries including emergency obstetric care without diversion, routine transfer, or redirection of patients to other facilities due to staffing limitations; LC006365 - Page 2 of 4
(5) No reduction in the scope of services offered at the birthing center including, but not limited to:
(i) Elimination of inpatient labor and delivery;
(ii) Conversion to outpatient-only, triage-only, or stabilization-only services;
(iii) Routine diversion of laboring patients to other hospitals; or
(iv) Restrictions that effectively require planned deliveries to occur off-island; and
(6) No administrative, financial, or operational action that renders the birthing center incapable of serving the healthcare needs of women and infants in Newport County.
(b) Brown Health or its operating entity, for eligibility for funding under this chapter shall:
(1) Provide quarterly financial reports detailing revenues, expenses, and use of fund resources to the director of the department of health and the Newport Hospital Foundation Board;
(2) Provide a final annual report on the use and impact of the fund to the director of the department of health, the Newport Hospital Foundation Board, the general assembly, and any philanthropic organizations that supported the fund;
(3) Conduct an annual open meeting for transparency and oversight detailing the status of the birthing center;
(4) Participate in any community councils created in collaboration with local city and town councils, state legislators, the Newport Hospital Foundation, and representatives of community- based organizations; and
(5) Develop and submit, with community input, a sustainability plan for the birthing center within twelve (12) months of receipt of funds to build a state-of-the-art women’s and maternal healthcare facility.
(c) The council established pursuant to subsection (b)(4) of this section shall:
(1) Once established, meet at least quarterly to review the findings on outcomes, quality, safety and financial data of the birthing center, and plan for the future of the Noreen Drexel birthing center at Newport Hospital; and
(2) Ensure decisions pertaining to the fund are broadly supported, collaborative, and positions the community both for input and to help with any required fundraising or advocacy to insure the sustainability of the birthing center.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
(1) Access to high-quality maternal and infant health care services is essential to the health and well-being of families in Newport County and across Rhode Island.
(2) The Newport Hospital birthing center provides critical, community-based maternity care, reducing the need for patients to travel off-island for services.
(3) The preservation and long-term sustainability of birthing services require coordinated public, private, and philanthropic investment.
(4) It is in the public interest to establish a dedicated fund to support the continued operation and improvement of the birthing center.
(5) The birthing center is an owned entity of Lifespan Physician Group, Inc., operating as Brown University Health, but it is also a community resource and should be treated that way.
Therefore, the purpose of this act is to establish the Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund to provide immediate and sustainable financial support for the operation of the birthing center.
SECTION 2. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: CHAPTER 13.9 THE NOREEN DREXEL BIRTHING CENTER FUND
23-13.9-1. Title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund Act.”
23-13.9-2. Establishment of the fund.
(a) There is hereby established within the department of health a restricted receipt account to be known as the “Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund,” hereinafter referred to as the “fund.”
(b) The fund shall be administered by the department of health in collaboration with the Newport Hospital Foundation.
(c) Monies in the fund shall be used exclusively to support the continued operation, staffing, and enhancement of birthing services at Newport Hospital or any successor entity providing equivalent services in Newport County.
23-13.9-3. Funding.
(a) For fiscal year 2027, the total appropriation from the state to the fund shall be one million six hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty-three dollars ($1,633,333), which appropriation shall be conditional upon the following.
(1) A deposit of one million six hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty-three dollars ($1,633,333), derived from Brown Health or its successor entity is provided to the fund; and
(2) Deposit(s) totaling one million six hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty- three dollars ($1,633,333), derived from philanthropic contributions including, but not limited to, donations from individuals, foundations, and community organizations is provided to the fund.
(b) The Newport Hospital Foundation is authorized to deposit philanthropic contributions into the fund and under the authorization of the department of health may receive funding to effectuate the purpose of § 23-13.9-2(c).
23-13.9-4. Conditions and accountability.
(a) Brown Health or its operating entity shall be eligible for funds pursuant to this chapter provided they maintain:
(1) Birthing services at Newport Hospital for the duration of the funding period;
(2) Continuous, year-round operation of inpatient labor and delivery services at Newport Hospital, without seasonal, or unreasonable intermittent, or temporary suspension;
(3) Twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7)-day-per-week availability of hospital-based obstetric services, including on-site or immediately available obstetric physicians;
(4) Certified nurse staffing levels sufficient to support safe and timely deliveries including emergency obstetric care without diversion, routine transfer, or redirection of patients to other facilities due to staffing limitations; LC006365 - Page 2 of 4
(5) No reduction in the scope of services offered at the birthing center including, but not limited to:
(i) Elimination of inpatient labor and delivery;
(ii) Conversion to outpatient-only, triage-only, or stabilization-only services;
(iii) Routine diversion of laboring patients to other hospitals; or
(iv) Restrictions that effectively require planned deliveries to occur off-island; and
(6) No administrative, financial, or operational action that renders the birthing center incapable of serving the healthcare needs of women and infants in Newport County.
(b) Brown Health or its operating entity, for eligibility for funding under this chapter shall:
(1) Provide quarterly financial reports detailing revenues, expenses, and use of fund resources to the director of the department of health and the Newport Hospital Foundation Board;
(2) Provide a final annual report on the use and impact of the fund to the director of the department of health, the Newport Hospital Foundation Board, the general assembly, and any philanthropic organizations that supported the fund;
(3) Conduct an annual open meeting for transparency and oversight detailing the status of the birthing center;
(4) Participate in any community councils created in collaboration with local city and town councils, state legislators, the Newport Hospital Foundation, and representatives of community- based organizations; and
(5) Develop and submit, with community input, a sustainability plan for the birthing center within twelve (12) months of receipt of funds to build a state-of-the-art women’s and maternal healthcare facility.
(c) The council established pursuant to subsection (b)(4) of this section shall:
(1) Once established, meet at least quarterly to review the findings on outcomes, quality, safety and financial data of the birthing center, and plan for the future of the Noreen Drexel birthing center at Newport Hospital; and
(2) Ensure decisions pertaining to the fund are broadly supported, collaborative, and positions the community both for input and to help with any required fundraising or advocacy to insure the sustainability of the birthing center.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.