Sen. Rochelle Winn, D-Las Vegas, introduced Senate Bill 297 on Friday, telling the Senate Committee on Government Affairs the bill would create an official recognition to raise awareness of perimenopause and menopause across Nevada.

Winn said she brought the bill to begin with education and recognition. "Raising awareness about perimenopause, raising awareness about menopause is crucial for addressing the significant knowledge gaps that exist amongst women and healthcare providers," she told the committee.

The bill's sponsor framed the legislation as an education measure rather than a regulatory or insurance mandate. Winn said she initially considered more prescriptive health coverage bills but chose recognition and outreach as a first step. She described personal struggles and the difficulties she and others had finding responsive physicians, and said recognition could prompt better training for clinicians.

Sue Burch, executive director of the Nevada chapter of the National Organization for Women, testified in support from Las Vegas and urged lawmakers to take the bill seriously. "We really urge you to take this bill seriously and show the women of Nevada that we care about their health care," she said.

Other supporters who spoke either in person or by phone included licensed mental health clinician Jenny Stepp, who said clinicians sometimes evaluate midlife patients for serious mental illness when symptoms reflect hormonal changes, and several residents who said the issue affects families and caregivers. Abraham Camejo, who identified himself as a father of five daughters, said he was "100% in support" of the recognition.

Committee procedure: Chair Flores and the committee opened and then closed the hearing on SB 297 during the same session; committee staff reminded speakers that testimony was limited to two minutes and that each side (support, opposition, neutral) would be capped at 30 minutes. No committee vote was recorded at the hearing.

Why it matters: Supporters said symbolic recognition would be the first step toward reducing stigma, educating providers and communities, and directing future legislative work toward specific health-care or insurance changes if data and public discussion warrant it.

The committee did not take a final vote on SB 297 at the hearing.

Ending: Senate staff closed the hearing after public testimony; members were informed they could submit longer written testimony to the committee secretary if they wished to provide more detail.