SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Adriane Johnson is spearheading legislation to expand continuing education opportunities for health care professionals by allowing coursework on perimenopause and menopause to count toward Illinois’ required implicit bias awareness training.

“Women’s health — particularly during perimenopause and menopause — has too often been overlooked or dismissed,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove).

“This legislation ensures providers can deepen their understanding of these life stages while still meeting continuing education requirements. It’s a practical step toward more responsive, patient-centered care.”

Senate Bill 3325 would permit a course covering perimenopause and menopause to satisfy the existing one-hour implicit bias awareness requirement for licensed health care professionals. Under current law, licensed health care professionals must complete at least one hour of continuing education on implicit bias awareness during each license renewal period. Failure to complete the training may result in license renewal issues or suspension.

This measure would build on that requirement by recognizing that education surrounding perimenopause and menopause — critical yet historically under-discussed stages of life — can help providers better understand patient experiences, improve communication and reduce disparities in care.

For health care professionals who provide maternal health services, existing law will require implicit bias training to include instruction on maternal health risk factors affecting individuals from marginalized racial or ethnic groups beginning July 1. Johnson’s measure would expand flexibility within the broader continuing education framework without adding new hours or mandates.

“By increasing awareness and clinical understanding of perimenopause and menopause, we empower providers with knowledge that directly impacts quality of care,” Johnson said. “When we equip our health care workforce with the right tools, patients across Illinois benefit.”

Senate Bill 3325 passed the Senate Licensed Activities Committee Wednesday.