Kentucky legislator proposes bill to improve prison maternal care

State Representative Emily Callaway has proposed legislation for Kentucky’s 2027 session aimed at enhancing the health and safety of pregnant inmates and their infants. The proposal comes in response to Kentucky’s maternal mortality rate, which remains significantly higher than the national average.

The bill seeks to standardize the collection and reporting of pregnancy and postpartum outcomes. A central component of the measure is the creation of an online inmate pregnancy outcome database, to be developed and maintained by the Department of Corrections in cooperation with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Under the proposed law, all correctional facilities—including jails, penitentiaries, and reentry centers—would be required to report specific data to the department. The goal is to use accurate, reliable information to identify gaps in care and ensure expectant mothers receive appropriate medical attention while in custody.