Senate Committee on Women’s Issues advances three menopause bills to first reading

The New York State Senate Committee on Women’s Issues moved three menopause-related bills to first reading during its May 21 meeting. The clerk read S.7495‑A, S.8543 and S.8894, each amending the Public Health Law to expand menopause awareness, require an informational web page, and establish an awareness campaign about hormone replacement therapy, respectively.

The committee’s clerk read S.7495‑A, described as the Menopause Awareness Improvement Act, and members seconded the motion; the chair called for a voice vote and said the bill “will be reported to first reading.” The clerk then read S.8543, directing the Department of Health to establish and maintain a menopause informational and resource web page; members again voiced support and the chair said it would move to first reading. Finally, the clerk read S.8894 (sponsored in the text by Senator Prasad), an act to establish an awareness campaign on the use of hormone‑replacement therapy; the motion was seconded, members voted by voice and the chair reported the bill to first reading.

Each item advanced by voice vote with no roll‑call tally provided in the committee record. No amendments or recorded individual votes were entered during the meeting. The chair closed the bill portion of the agenda and introduced the committee’s guest speaker.

What happens next

All three bills were reported to first reading in the Senate. Further committee consideration, amendments or votes were not recorded in the transcript; the bills will follow the Senate’s normal legislative process for first reading, additional committee referrals and floor action.