New York Assembly Bill A02698

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/25
• Refer: 1/22/25
• Report Pass: 5/19/25
• Refer: 5/19/25
• Report Pass: 5/27/25
• Refer: 5/27/25
• Report Pass: 6/4/25

Caption

Establishes an awareness campaign on the use of hormone replacement therapy in treating the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.

Summary

A02698 would amend the Public Health Law to create a state awareness campaign about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for perimenopause and menopause. The campaign would be required to provide information on perimenopause and menopause, associated symptoms and health risks, the value of HRT in treating symptoms, the types of HRT available, and the benefits, risks, side effects, and current recommendations for use. The bill is informational rather than regulatory: it does not require insurers to cover HRT, mandate treatment, or change clinical standards of care. Instead, it directs the state health education apparatus to disseminate medically relevant public information so that residents have better access to current guidance and can make more informed decisions about menopause-related care.

Impact

The bill would add a new topic to the public health education materials covered under section 207 of the Public Health Law, expanding the state’s health awareness efforts to include menopause and hormone replacement therapy. Its practical effect would be on state public health messaging and educational outreach, with no direct changes to licensing, prescribing authority, or benefit coverage. The main affected parties would be the Department of Health, health educators, clinicians, and people experiencing perimenopause or menopause.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong bipartisan or at least unanimous committee support, with favorable votes in the Assembly Health Committee, Ways and Means Committee, and Rules Committee and no recorded opposition in those votes. That suggests the bill is broadly viewed as a low-conflict public health measure focused on education and awareness. No committee transcript is available here, so there is no recorded floor-level debate or public testimony to indicate broader controversy.

Contention

There is little visible contention in the available record. The only potential points of discussion are the scope and framing of the awareness campaign—specifically, how much emphasis should be placed on hormone replacement therapy versus other treatment options, and how the state should present the benefits and risks of HRT in a medically balanced way. Because the bill is limited to public education and passed committee unanimously, any disagreement appears minimal or unresolved in the available materials.