She Drove a Hundred Miles to Give Birth. New California Laws Are Bringing Maternity Care Closer to Home

Cal Matters

Nov 12, 2025

Highlights 2 new California laws aiming to increase access to maternal healthcare services in rural areas. One law creates a 10 year pilot program to operate standby maternity units for emergency care rather than maintaining staff full time. A second law relaxes licensing rules for birth centers. Discusses new maternity care options as a result of the new policies in Plumas County where a maternity ward closed in 2022.

Access · Closures of healthcare facilities and services · Legislation and regulations · Maternal health and prenatal care · Service delivery models · California