Mussman-Backed Legislation to Support Mothers with Newborns Passes House

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Hoping to provide critical support to mothers and their newborn children, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, passed legislation Wednesday that would identify and create a support system to provide short-term universal newborn home visiting services. 

“Being a mother can be putting your baby’s needs before your own, and often that leads to mothers struggling with their needs not being met,” said Mussman. “The rate of maternal and infant deaths within a year of birth is tragically high, and we need to offer new mothers the support they desperately need to support themselves and their child.”

House Bill 4606 requires the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to identify, develop and manage administrative infrastructure needed to support existing and future short-term universal newborn home visiting services. 

By Jan. 1, 2028, IDHS may do the following:

• Create a list of voluntary universal newborn home visiting models,
• Coordinate with relevant state agencies to support the implementation of state-administered funding for local programs that support universal newborn home visiting, and
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to design infrastructure to support universal newborn home visiting services.

“Motherhood can be daunting to many new mothers, and providing them support will build their confidence and knowledge to best care for their child,” said Mussman. “It takes a village to raise a child, and this support could be crucial to the livelihood of many mothers.”

The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.