Women's Health Legislation
The latest news on laws that impact women's health — stay informed on what's happening now.
Public health: abortion services.
Overview of AB 2531
Assembly Bill 2531 makes technical updates to California's law regarding a state website that provides information about abortion services. The bill requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to maintain and improve this existing website to ensure the public has accurate and comprehensive information about accessing abortion services in the state.
What Information the Website Must Include
The website must provide California residents with details about their legal rights to abortion, locations of abortion providers, and practical support services such as help with airfare, lodging, childcare, and translation. It must also include information about payment options and financial assistance programs, descriptions of available abortion methods, and medically accurate information to counter misinformation. The website must be mobile-friendly and accessible to people with disabilities.
Requirements for Accuracy and Accessibility
The agency must consult with experts including the Department of Justice and patient advocacy organizations to ensure the information is accurate and helpful. The website must be updated at least every six months and must be available in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean. Importantly, the website must protect the privacy of individual abortion providers by not listing their names or specific locations.
Momnibus Act
This bill aims to address serious health problems that affect pregnant women and new mothers in the United States. It focuses on three main goals: preventing deaths during pregnancy and childbirth, reducing severe health complications for mothers, and closing gaps in maternal health care that affect different communities unequally.
The legislation recognizes that maternal mortality and severe complications are significant public health concerns in America. By creating measures to improve maternal health care and address inequalities, the bill seeks to ensure safer pregnancies and deliveries for all women, particularly those in underserved or disadvantaged communities who often face worse health outcomes.
Family Building FEHB Fairness Act Veteran Families Health Services Act Protect IVF Act Access to Fertility Treatment and Care Act
# SummaryThis topic focuses on efforts to protect and expand access to assisted reproductive technology across the United States. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) refers to medical procedures that help people conceive, with in vitro fertilization (IVF) being one of the most common methods. IVF involves combining sperm and eggs in a laboratory to create embryos, which are then transferred into the uterus.
The main goal is to ensure that more Americans can access these fertility treatments, regardless of where they live or their financial situation. Currently, access to ART can vary significantly by location and affordability remains a barrier for many people seeking to start or expand their families. Advocates want to remove these obstacles through policy changes, insurance coverage improvements, and increased funding.
Protecting nationwide access means working to maintain existing programs and services while also expanding them to reach more people who need fertility assistance. This includes supporting research, removing legal barriers, and making treatments more affordable and widely available across all states.
NIH IMPROVE Act NIH Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone Act
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Requires health benefits coverage of assisted reproductive technology to prevent transmission of monogenic disorder.
Overview: This New Jersey legislative bill requires health insurance plans to cover assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments, including procedures to prevent the transmission of serious genetic disorders to offspring.
Coverage Requirements: Insurance contracts must cover medically necessary infertility treatments as determined by a physician, following American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines. Coverage includes diagnosis, medications, surgery, in vitro fertilization (IVF), genetic testing, and up to four egg retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers. The costs of egg and sperm donors are also covered. Insurance companies cannot deny coverage based on age or relationship status, and the coverage applies equally to same-sex couples and single individuals.
Expanded Definition of Infertility: The bill expands the definition of infertility to include cases where individuals are carriers of serious genetic disorders and need ART to prevent passing those conditions to their children. This represents a significant addition to traditional infertility coverage, addressing reproductive needs beyond the inability to conceive.
Standard Terms: The same copayments, deductibles, and benefit limits that apply to other medical procedures apply to infertility treatment. Religious employers may request exemptions from these coverage requirements under certain circumstances.
Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act of 2026
This bill would provide funding through grants to organizations that help people travel and access abortion services. The grants would cover practical support expenses related to people obtaining abortions.
The legislation aims to remove financial and logistical barriers that prevent individuals from accessing abortion care, particularly those who may need to travel to reach a provider due to restrictions in their home state or region.
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month.
What This Resolution Does
California Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 198 declares May 2026 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a symbolic measure designed to draw attention to mental health issues affecting pregnant women and new mothers.
The Problem
Maternal mental health disorders are surprisingly common but frequently go undiagnosed and untreated. Depression and anxiety affect about one in five women during or after pregnancy, and in California specifically, one in three mothers experiences pregnancy-related depression or anxiety. Despite these high rates, fewer than 15 percent of cases receive treatment due to a shortage of screening providers and various barriers within the healthcare system, as well as stigma and lack of awareness.
Why It Matters
When maternal mental health issues go untreated, the consequences are serious for both mothers and their children. These disorders can lead to poor birth outcomes, weaken the bond between mother and infant, cause developmental problems in children, and create significant medical and economic costs. The resolution aims to increase understanding of these conditions and encourage women and families to recognize the signs and seek help.
Abortion Medication Access on College Campuses
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Bill Purpose: This legislation aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance reproductive health care services specifically for people with disabilities.
Main Focus: The bill addresses gaps in reproductive health care access and quality for individuals with disabilities. It seeks to ensure that people with disabilities receive appropriate, accessible reproductive health services comparable to what is available to the general population.
Key Goal: By modifying the Public Health Service Act, the bill intends to improve how reproductive health care is delivered to this underserved population, likely through increased funding, training requirements, accessibility standards, or other supportive measures to remove barriers to care.
Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act
# SummaryThis bill proposes changes to the Public Health Service Act aimed at improving reproductive health care specifically for people with disabilities. The legislation recognizes that individuals with disabilities often face barriers in accessing quality reproductive health services and seeks to address these gaps in care.
The bill focuses on ensuring that people with disabilities receive equitable, accessible reproductive health services. This includes addressing physical accessibility in clinics, providing information in formats that accommodate different disabilities, and training healthcare providers to work effectively with disabled patients. The goal is to remove obstacles that prevent individuals with disabilities from receiving the same reproductive health care options available to others.
By amending the Public Health Service Act, the legislation aims to strengthen the healthcare system's ability to serve this population better, recognizing their unique needs and rights to comprehensive reproductive health care.