NYC Council Introduction 1285

intro.nyc/1285-2025 2024-2025 Legislative Session Mayor's Desk for Signature
Citywide doula program.
Sponsored by Jennifer Gutiérrez
Introduced: May 28, 2025

This bill would require the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to establish a program to provide free doula services to people in marginalized neighborhoods in all five boroughs, to train individuals to become doulas, and to offer assistance to certain maternity hospitals to foster a doula friendly environment. The program would train doulas in birth equity, trauma-informed care, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, navigating the hospital environment and support services available to low-income birthing people and their families. The bill would also require the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to submit a report to the Mayor and Speaker of the Council on the services provided by the program and an analysis on the use and outcomes of the program.

Approved by Committee October 29, 2025

Committee on Women and Gender Equity Votes 5:0:0
Farah N. Louis (Affirmative)
Tiffany L. Cabán (Affirmative)
Jennifer Gutiérrez (Affirmative)
Kevin C. Riley (Affirmative)
Inna Vernikov (Affirmative)

Approved by Council October 29, 2025

Votes 47:0:0
Adrienne E. Adams (Affirmative)
Diana I. Ayala (Affirmative)
Shaun Abreu (Affirmative)
Joann Ariola (Affirmative)
Alexa Avilés (Affirmative)
Chris Banks (Affirmative)
Erik D. Bottcher (Affirmative)
Justin L. Brannan (Affirmative)
Gale A. Brewer (Affirmative)
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (Affirmative)
Tiffany L. Cabán (Affirmative)
David M. Carr (Affirmative)
Carmen N. De La Rosa (Affirmative)
Eric Dinowitz (Affirmative)
Amanda C. Farías (Affirmative)
Simcha Felder (Affirmative)
Oswald J. Feliz (Affirmative)
James F. Gennaro (Affirmative)
Jennifer Gutiérrez (Affirmative)
Shahana K. Hanif (Affirmative)
Kamillah Hanks (Absent)
Robert F. Holden (Affirmative)
Crystal Hudson (Affirmative)
Rita C. Joseph (Affirmative)
Shekar Krishnan (Affirmative)
Linda Lee (Affirmative)
Farah N. Louis (Affirmative)
Kristy Marmorato (Affirmative)
Christopher Marte (Affirmative)
Darlene Mealy (Absent)
Julie Menin (Affirmative)
Frank Morano (Affirmative)
Francisco P. Moya (Affirmative)
Mercedes Narcisse (Affirmative)
Sandy Nurse (Affirmative)
Chi A. Ossé (Affirmative)
Vickie Paladino (Affirmative)
Keith Powers (Affirmative)
Lincoln Restler (Affirmative)
Kevin C. Riley (Affirmative)
Yusef Salaam (Absent)
Rafael Salamanca, Jr. (Affirmative)
Pierina Ana Sanchez (Affirmative)
Lynn C. Schulman (Affirmative)
Althea V. Stevens (Affirmative)
Sandra Ung (Affirmative)
Inna Vernikov (Affirmative)
Nantasha M. Williams (Affirmative)
Julie Won (Affirmative)
Susan Zhuang (Affirmative)