California Advances Groundbreaking Menopause Education Bill

In a move that could reshape how physicians are trained to care for women in midlife and beyond, California lawmakers advanced legislation this week aimed at improving medical education around menopause. The bill, AB360, cleared its first committee hearing on Tuesday with unanimous support.

The measure, authored by Assemblymember Diane Papan and championed by women’s health advocate Denise Pines, would require the Medical Board of California to assess physicians’ knowledge of both the physical and mental health impacts of menopause. Based on the results, the board could recommend whether continuing medical education (CME) requirements should include formal training on menopause care.

“I had the honor of delivering testimony to Assembly members today,” one advocate said, noting the personal and professional toll of inadequate care. “This is a critical step toward ensuring that women are not dismissed, overlooked, or left to navigate this life stage without support.”

Supporters of the bill gathered at the State Capitol in Sacramento to testify before legislators, urging the committee to address what they described as a long-standing blind spot in medical training. The hearing drew a diverse coalition of advocates, healthcare professionals, and community leaders who want to improve education on menopause.

The bill has gained traction quickly. Initial opposition from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Medical Association was withdrawn ahead of the hearing. Both organizations have since expressed support for the bill’s intent to improve physician education.

For Pines, the bill represents the culmination of years of advocacy to bring menopause out of the margins of women’s health policy. “This isn’t just about medical education,” she said. “It’s about ensuring that women are treated with dignity, empathy, and expertise as they move through this significant phase of life.”

If passed, AB360 would mark one of the first legislative efforts in the nation to formally assess the scope of menopause education among licensed physicians.

The measure now advances to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, with further votes in the full Assembly and State Senate expected in the coming months.

“This is about more than policy,” one advocate said after the vote. “It’s about progress—one small step at a time.”