Legislative win for maternal health & pregnant people
August 1, 2025
Thanks to Texas Jail Project's advocacy, the state legislature passed two trail-blazing riders during the 2025 legislative session. Maternal Health and Mortality Rider 89 (R) (Pg 644, Item 3), drafted…
Topics: Medical, Mental Health, Pregnancy, TCJS, Texas Legislature
Thanks to Texas Jail Project’s advocacy, the state legislature passed two trail-blazing riders during the 2025 legislative session. Maternal Health and Mortality Rider 89 (R) (Pg 644, Item 3), drafted by Rep. González in collaboration with TJP, mandates Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) to collect 12 months of data on pregnant and recently pregnant people in county jails and publish it by December 2026.
This legislative victory comes after many years of advocacy for greater data collection on pregnant people in jails. Through our work, we know that pregnant people have experienced medical neglect and been denied mental health services. Currently, TCJS, the state regulatory agency, does not require jails to report the number of miscarriages, fetal deaths or maternal mortality. The rider requires the state to collect the following data:
- use of restraints
- outcomes of pregnancy
- mental health indicators (CCQ check and 16.22 mental health screening) & care
- substance use history
- standard of prenatal care offered
- Severe Maternal Morbidity (which includes complications during pregnancy, childbirth and
- one year post-partum) and
- regionality
- maternal mortality as medically defined
The collection of this information will allow us to better understand the experiences of pregnant people in jails and advocate for further mental health and medical interventions. Read more below.
Read about our other legislative success this session at this link.
Read a history of legislative protections for pregnant people