Maryland Commission for Women

06/08/2026

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📖 Read our latest newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/maryland.gov/june-maryland-women-newsletter

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06/03/2026

Chair Dr. LaShaune Chinnery represented the Maryland Commission for Women at a powerful event this weekend for survivors of domestic violence, hosted by the Baltimore County Commission for Women. Local Commissions across Maryland do amazing work, and we are honored to partner with them!

05/29/2026

Hot flashes. Brain fog. Sleepless nights. Anxiety. Symptoms that can affect every part of daily life, yet for far too long too many women have been dismissed or told to simply “push through.”

This week, Governor Moore signed Senate Bill 892 / House Bill 1365, into law. The bill improves access to care for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, strengthens provider education, and helps ensure women are heard, taken seriously, and supported at every stage of life.

Grateful to the women who shared their stories, the advocates and medical professionals who helped shape this effort, and Maryland Commission for Women, Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Health Chair Heather Bagnall for their partnership and leadership and my Senate colleagues, especially Finance Chair Pam Beidle, for helping get this across the finish line.

Edited to add: For details, read more in the The Baltimore Banner, https://www.thebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/maryland-menopause-care-bill-YG5XB2CH2ZCRNJVDPWXTVT44CQ/

Or bill: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0892/?ys=2026rs

05/29/2026

05/29/2026

We recently attended the Governor’s bill signings to celebrate major legislative victories for women across Maryland. These bills address everything from reproductive freedom to healthy aging and the long-term capacity of the Maryland Commission for Women.

Here is what these new laws mean for you:

👉 Better Menopause Care: SB892/HB1365 ensures Maryland doctors get better training to treat menopause, requires insurance companies to cover treatments, and authorizes us to research new policies supporting women’s economic security. (Thank you, Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Senator Dawn Gile!)

👉 College Contraception Access: HB1076/SB532 (Sen. Kagan & Del. Smith) makes over-the-counter contraception more affordable and available at all of Maryland's public 2- and 4-year colleges.

👉 A Stronger Commission: HB1300 (Del. Hill) expands our ability to partner with local commissions, strengthens our long-term capacity, and formally creates the African American Heritage Program honoring Speaker Adrienne Jones!

👉 Emergency Care Protection: SB169/HB372 (Sen. Lam & Del. Kelly) guarantees that anyone facing a severe pregnancy-related medical emergency receives immediate, stabilizing care at any Maryland hospital emergency department.

We are so proud to support advocacy on these issues. What policy areas matter most to you? Let us know in the comments! 👇

📬 Don’t miss a beat on what we are working on next. Click the link to subscribe to our newsletter: https://maryland.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=77840db5e6a8c6fcd78a55df2&id=946d0cf784&utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

05/29/2026

History was made at the State House! 🏛️✨ Members of the Maryland Commission for Women attended the Governor’s bill signings to celebrate the official passage of several bills that will change the landscape of healthcare, reproductive equity, and advocacy in our state.

SWIPE to see the major legislative wins we helped champion:

1️⃣SB892/HB1365: A bill advancing menopause education, insurance coverage, and economic research.

2️⃣HB1076/SB532: Expanding over-the-counter contraception availability across public college campuses.

3️⃣HB1300: Empowering the Commission’s statutory capabilities to research and advocate, while cementing the African American Heritage Program in honor of Speaker Adrienne Jones.

4️⃣ SB169/HB372: Guaranteeing life-saving, stabilizing emergency care for pregnancy-related medical crises in Maryland hospitals.

Huge thanks to our legislative champions and community partners who made this possible! 🙌❤️

🔗 Want to know what we’re tackling next? Head to the link in our bio to subscribe to our newsletter!

05/28/2026

Thank you Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk for championing this work around menopause care!

Menopause is a natural and inevitable stage of aging, yet it remains one of the most under-researched, under-discussed, and stigmatized experiences in women’s health.

Too many women are told their symptoms are “just anxiety,” “stress,” or simply part of getting older. They are shuffled from specialist to specialist, struggling with insomnia, heart palpitations, rising blood pressure, brain fog, exhaustion, and a constant sense that something is wrong — only to be told their labs look “normal.”

A close friend of mine went through exactly this. For months, her concerns were dismissed, even as her symptoms worsened. Only after changing providers did she finally receive appropriate menopause care and hormone treatment that dramatically improved her quality of life within weeks.

Women deserve better.

They deserve medical professionals who are trained to recognize the signs of menopause, understand the physiological changes happening during this transition, and offer evidence-based treatment options.

That’s why I’m proud that this week we signed into law legislation I sponsored to strengthen clinical training and expand coverage for menopause care in Maryland.

Women’s health matters. And it’s long past time our health care system treated it that way.

05/28/2026

Menopause isn’t just a private health struggle, it’s a public policy priority. 🏛️💼

This past Tuesday, we joined First Lady at the Governor’s House for a special screening and panel discussion of The M Factor 2: Before the Pause-Perimenopause.

From addressing “The Grey Attrition” where women are forced out of the workforce at the peak of their careers, to fighting the clinical training gaps that leave symptoms dismissed, Maryland is paving a new path forward.

With our new law HB 1365 and programs like the FAMLI Act, we are working to protect women’s health, careers, and economic security at every stage of life.

It’s time to extend health advocacy across the entire lifespan. Let’s keep shredding the silence! ❤️

05/28/2026

It’s time to shred the silence on menopause. 🤫❌

This past Tuesday, the Maryland Commission for Women was honored to join First Lady Dawn Moore at the Governor’s House for a special screening of the groundbreaking documentary, The M Factor 2: Before the Pause-Perimenopause.

The film exposes a stark reality:

-The Medical Blind Spot: General practitioners and OB/GYNs receive minimal training on menopause, leaving millions of women facing misdiagnosis or dismissal.

-The Invisible Toll: Debilitating symptoms like brain fog and sleep deprivation cost women billions in lost wages, often driving them out of the workforce at the peak of their careers, a crisis known as "The Grey Attrition."

-Inequitable Care: Black and Brown women face compounded medical disparities and systemic biases trying to access proper treatment.

Following the film, Commission Executive Director Ariana Kelly took the stage alongside Executive Producer Denise Pines, Dr. Sharon Malone, and moderator Tisha Edwards for a powerful, solutions-focused panel.

Maryland is leading the nation in changing this narrative. With our historic menopause legislation (HB1365) expanding insurance coverage and workplace flexibility supported by the FAMLI Act, we are fighting to protect women's health, economic security, and quality of life across their entire lifespans. 💼❤️

Thank you to all the commissioners, elected officials, and advocates who joined us to champion menopause equity!

05/14/2026