(HB1173)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 1173, which would insert menopause and perimenopause as protected categories in the Virginia Human Rights Act alongside race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or military status. For too long, menopause and perimenopause have been inadequately studied, their impacts on women's health overlooked and treatment for symptoms underfunded — leaving many women without healthcare options or treatment for symptoms. As such, I was proud to sign legislation requiring mandatory insurance coverage for medically necessary menopause and perimenopause-related treatments.

Under the Virginia Human Rights Act, women experiencing menopause or perimenopause are protected from workplace discrimination based on existing protections for age and gender. As we consider whether to explicitly add menopause and perimenopause to the list of named, protected categories, my amendments to this bill would have required a study to better understand the potential impacts of doing so.

While the General Assembly rejected these amendments, I look forward to working with the bill's patron in the future to ensure Virginia is leading on issues of women's health.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.