HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACROSS THE LIFE COURSE (Creates a 17-member legislative commission to study women’s reproductive health across the life course, and would report back to the House by March 2, 2027, and would expire on May 2, 2027.)

Plain-English Summary

This bill would create a temporary, 17-member study commission focused on women's reproductive health throughout different stages of life — from adolescence through menopause and beyond. The commission would be made up of legislators and potentially outside experts or stakeholders, and its job would be to examine issues related to women's reproductive health, identify gaps in care or policy, and develop findings and recommendations. The commission would be required to deliver a formal report to the Rhode Island House of Representatives by March 2, 2027, and would automatically dissolve on May 2, 2027.

The commission would primarily affect policymakers and health officials, as its work would inform potential future legislation or policy changes related to women's healthcare in Rhode Island. Women in Rhode Island could ultimately be affected if the commission's recommendations lead to new laws or programs. However, this bill does not change any existing laws, create new health programs, or allocate any funding on its own — it simply establishes a group to research and study the issue.

Currently, the bill has been referred to the House Health & Human Services Committee and was scheduled for a hearing in March 2026. The committee has recommended it be "held for further study," meaning it has not yet moved forward in the legislative process. This is a common step where a committee pauses action on a bill while gathering more information or building support before deciding whether to advance it.