SESSION WATCH
THE BILL ITSELF

HB 161

Impact of Perimenopause and Menopause on Women's Health

VERSION H 161 Filed · BACK TO THE SUMMARY · OFFICIAL RECORD

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the impact of perimenopause and
3 menopause on women's health; creating s. 381.995,
4 F.S.; requiring the Department of Health to establish
5 a perimenopause and menopause policy workgroup;
6 providing requirements for the workgroup; requiring
7 the department, in collaboration with others, to
8 develop and make publicly available information
9 relating to perimenopause and menopause; providing
10 requirements for such information; providing an
11 effective date.
13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Section 381.995, Florida Statutes, is created
16 to read:
17 381.995 Perimenopause and menopause workgroup and
18 information.—
19 (1)(a) The Department of Health shall establish a
20 perimenopause and menopause policy workgroup. The workgroup
21 shall:
22 1. Develop key messages relating to perimenopause and
23 menopause.
24 2. Set initiative priorities.
25 3. Ensure, in conjunction with diversity and health equity
26 stakeholders, that initiatives are representative of diverse
27 communities of women and that the messaging resonates, is
28 culturally appropriate, and is delivered by trusted messengers.
29 4. Create a coordinated communications strategy to focus
30 on multiple audiences and use a variety of communications tools
31 to reach:
32 a. Women and men of all ages.
33 b. Employers.
34 c. Medical providers.
35 5. Consider dissemination points for information
36 including, but not limited to, personal trainers, yoga
37 instructors, hairdressers, religious meeting places, and
38 community centers.
39 6. Support efforts to communicate science on safety of
40 hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and nonhormonal therapies in
41 appropriate patients, and their use in improving health for
42 menopausal women.
43 (b) The workgroup shall be composed of health care
44 providers, women who have experienced perimenopause or
45 menopause, advocates, and other interested parties and
46 associations.
47 (2) The Department of Health, in collaboration with the
48 workgroup, the Office of Women's Health, and relevant state
49 agencies, shall develop and make publicly available, by posting
50 on its Internet website, resources and an Internet website link
51 to materials relating to perimenopause and menopause. The
52 resources shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the
53 following:
54 (a) Accurate scientific information on perimenopausal and
55 menopausal symptoms and treatment options.
56 (b) Information on health risks associated with reduced
57 estrogen production and what women should do to stay healthy.
58 (c) A downloadable checklist that can be printed and taken
59 to a clinician visit that details preventive care women need as
60 they reach and move through midlife and provide a set of
61 questions women may wish to ask their clinician.
62 (d) Content adapted from existing clinician-directed
63 menopause materials, other federal Offices of Women's Health,
64 and tools created by patient education and advocacy
65 organizations.
66 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.