🚨Texans! We have a call for community action! 🚨  

The Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) report is late. We need you to show up and urge the MMMRC and DSHS to release the report. 

What is the MMMRC? 

The Texas MMMRC is a legislative committee tasked with reviewing: 

• Cases of pregnancy-related deaths;  

• Trends, rates, or disparities in pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity;  

• Health conditions and factors that disproportionately affect the most at-risk populations; and  

• Best practices and programs operating in other states that have reduced rates of deaths related to pregnancy.  

Why is the report late? 

Every two years the MMMRC is supposed to release a report on the state’s maternal health data and policy recommendations. This report is usually released on September 1. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) stated the report is being delayed to December 1. DSHS is saying the due date was changed due to a new provision in the Texas Health and Safety code that was enacted during the 89th Regular Legislative Session in 2024. That said, this new provision does not prohibit the report from being released sooner than December 1st. 

At public MMMRC meetings the committee said the report was on track to be released September 1, so what changed? Why will the report not be released until after the General Election? We want to know. 

Why is it important? 

The findings from this report help inform evidence-based strategies to prevent future pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. This report being delayed prevents lawmakers from being able to use the reports findings to file bills ahead of the 2027 legislative session based off the reports recommendations. 

In a state like Texas, where maternal mortality has increased dramatically over the past few years, this work is more important than ever. 

For more information on this check out these articles: 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/texas-maternal-mortality-statistics-22417984.php

Deadline to release 2026 Maternal Mortality Report arrives after midterm elections | KXAN Austin 

How to take action: 

Let’s pack the room! You can give public comment and/or attend the next Texas MMMRC meeting. We will be sending out helpful resources for giving public comment and offering office hours to those who sign up using this RSVP link. 

When: Friday, September 25th at 9am CT 

Where: Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Robert Moreton Building Room M-100, First Floor 

1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756 

Want to speak at the meeting virtually/in person? 

The link to sign up to speak virtually is released a week before the meeting and will be posted at this link Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee | Texas DSHS. In order to speak virtually you must sign up by 5pm CT the day before the meeting.  

If you are wanting to give public comment in person you are able to sign up when you check-in at the meeting. 

Best Practices for Public Comment 

• Provide information that you can speak on from your perspective. Maybe you are a parent, you know a parent, you work in health care or mental health care… whatever it is that brings you to this meeting, speak on that.  

• Suggestion for how to structure your public comment: 

• Introduce yourself, include what city you’re from and/or what role you play in the community (i.e. nurse, birthworker, parent, mother, etc.) 

• State the issue at hand, what have you come to talk about? 

• What is your personal connection to this issue? Maybe bring in a story or experience. 

• If you don’t want to bring in a personal experience or don’t think you have one you can also talk about data and numbers 

• What do you recommend? Or what are you for or against? 

• Thank the committee for their time 

For questions about this action please email ive@urge.org.