Below is a state-by-state summary of menopause legislation introduced thus far this year.
California
- Menopause Care Equity Act (AB 432) would mandate menopause treatment coverage by public and private insurance; require physicians to complete menopause-specific CME “if more than 25% of their patient population consists of women”; and direct the Medical Board to develop menopause-specific CME curriculum. (A treatment bill was vetoed by Gov. Newsom in 2024)
- AB 360 would require state medical boards to develop and administer menopause training surveys as part of the license renewal process
Illinois:
- SJR0025 would create Menopause Awareness Week on October 12-18, 2025 “to drive legislative action on workforce protections, healthcare equity, and research funding”
- Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton held a March 18 menopause discussion (with Halle Berry and Dr. Pauline Maki, among others)
- As noted in Citizen’s Guide, HB5295 will expand prior bill mandating treatment coverage for post-hysterectomy patients to include all menopause treatments as of Jan 1, 2026
New Jersey:
- AB 5278 would mandate menopause treatment coverage by public and private insurance
- S4147 would require menopause as a CME topic
- SB 4197/AB 3334 would require employers to allow employees suffering from a range of menstrual disorders to work remotely, unless it would create an undue burden for employers
New York:
- AB 5444 would mandate menopause treatment coverage by public and private insurance
- AB 5436 would help prevent discrimination and increase awareness about menopause and perimenopause
- A01940/SB3908 would amend the workers’ compensation law to provide four days of paid leave for menstrual complications and menopause
- S1720 would establish an awareness campaign on menopause hormone treatment
Oregon:
That one-in-four states have proposed menopause laws shows that citizen advocacy works — and lawmakers are listening. That’s progress!
For all of us committed to women’s health, this wave of legislative visibility should fuel our hope that it’s worth our effort to fight for bipartisan and meaningful progress.
Mid-life, menopausal women must be able to make informed choices about our health, deserve access to affordable, competent medical care and treatment from trained professionals and have every right to demand lawmakers and leaders invest in solutions that ensure our well-being, our dignity, our humanity.
So we must be committed to fighting for continued progress!
Here's how to get involved:
For those of you in these states, please send a letter to your local congressional representatives urging them to get these bills passed! Links coming soon.
Additional resources:
- Oprah Article Coming Soon
- Gretchen Whitment Coming Soon