HB 514 – Government health recruitment campaign

HB 514 would require the state to launch a new public campaign aimed at growing the maternal health workforce, targeting rural areas and minority populations. It calls for using existing resources but sets the stage for government-driven investment in training programs, facility expansion, and outreach. While well-intentioned, this legislation expands the role of government in health care, diverts agency focus to social programming, and implicitly opens the door to future spending increases under the guise of equity. The bill promotes race and identity-based hiring priorities. Rather than improving care through private market incentives or deregulation, it adds another layer of state-directed programming