Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - 2025 USBC Conference Cancellation, Special Section on Breastfeeding in Public Spaces, & more

The USBC e-Newsletter, Staying Abreast, is published in a weekly news brief format, called the Weekly Wire (WW). Past issues are archived below.

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Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - 2025 USBC Conference Cancellation, Special Section on Breastfeeding in Public Spaces, & more

3/7/2025

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- Official Announcement: 2025 National Breastfeeding Conference and Convening Cancellation
- Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: The Breast Choice Lactation Services & Vermont Breastfeeding Network
Special Section on Breastfeeding in Public Spaces
State & Community News
- Alabama Bill Exempting Breastfeeding Mothers From Jury Duty Approved by House, and More States Introduce Jury Duty Exemption Bills
- Fact Sheet: Paid Leave Means A Stronger Ohio
- New York Bill Introduced to Regulate Human Milk Banks
- Massachusetts Bill Introduced to Improve Access to Breast Pumps
- Alabama Bill Introduced to Grant Paid Parental Leave to State Employees
Action Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views
Journal Publications

denotes a USBC member organization news item denotes a USBC-affiliated constellation news item

USBC Updates

Official Announcement: 2025 National Breastfeeding Conference and Convening Cancellation

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee has announced the cancellation of its June 2025 in-person National Breastfeeding Conference and Convening in Bethesda, MD. As we navigate through a period marked by significant uncertainty, the USBC team affirms its commitment to deepening the impact of our work and for sustainable solutions to challenges across the human milk feeding field. We look forward to gathering for an in-person conference next year and will share information about additional engagement opportunities as it becomes available. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: The Breast Choice Lactation Services & Vermont Breastfeeding Network

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to welcome 18 organizations to the USBC member network as of January 2025! Each edition of the Weekly Wire newsletter is highlighting two of the new member organizations, presented in alphabetical order. Access the archive to review past editions and learn about the new member organizations. The USBC warmly welcomes all new and returning member organizations to our table! This week we are highlighting The Breast Choice Lactation Services and the Vermont Breastfeeding Network.

The Breast Choice Lactation Services is a direct service organization that offers in-home and virtual breastfeeding support, prenatal through weaning. They work alongside the nursing parents to offer individualized care and infant feeding support. The Breast Choice Lactation serves Southern Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant Counties in Texas.

The Vermont Breastfeeding Network includes lactation professionals in Vermont who support lactating families. As members of the USBC network, the Vermont Breastfeeding Network hopes to be able to collaborate and network with other coalitions throughout the country.

Special Section on Breastfeeding in Public Spaces

The lack of private lactation rooms in public spaces such as courthouses, public transportation facilities, and airports adds to the obstacles lactating mothers face while trying to meet their breastfeeding goals. Many state policymakers have introduced legislation to improve access to private spaces where lactating mothers can conveniently breastfeed and pump their breast milk in public spaces.

Indiana: Representative Summers introduced House Bill 1240. The bill would establish a grant program for the installation of lactation rooms in public buildings and would appropriate $5,000,000 in the grant fund. The bill would require the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority to administer the grant program and authorize public agencies to apply for grants.
Maryland: Delegate Lewis introduced House Bill 1440. The bill would require certain courthouses in the state to maintain a private lactation room that may be used by employees of the court and members of the public.
New York: Assemblymember Solages introduced Assembly Bill 5230, which would require certain public transportation facilities to provide a private room for nursing mothers, outside of a public restroom, that includes at least a chair and an electrical outlet. Assemblymember Forrest introduced Assembly Bill 2100, which would require a workplace that has a designated lactation room for employees to make that space available to the public under certain circumstances. Assemblymember Forrest also introduced Assembly Bill 5361, which would require conspicuous signage notifying the public of the availability of lactation rooms in public buildings.
Pennsylvania: Representative O’Mara introduced House Bill 526. The bill would amend the state’s Freedom to Breastfeed Act to allow a private right of action for an individual whose freedom to breastfeed has been denied, interfered with or otherwise restricted, or who has experienced retaliation for exercising the freedom to breastfeed. The bill would allow for damages of $1,000 per violation of the freedom to breastfeed, in addition to other forms of relief and recovery of attorney fees and litigation expenses.
Texas: Representative Talarico introduced House Bill 347. The bill would create a criminal offense for unconsented visual recording in a lactation room.
West Virginia: Senator Chapman introduced Senate Bill 171. The bill would require all state buildings to provide a private room, separate from a bathroom, in which mothers can nurse or express milk.

State & Community News

Alabama Bill Exempting Breastfeeding Mothers From Jury Duty Approved by House, and More States Introduce Jury Duty Exemption Bills

The Alabama House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 209. This bill would allow nursing mothers to request to be excused from jury service by providing a written statement confirming they are nursing and a supporting document like a birth certificate or medical record. When excused, the mother will be exempt from jury service for a 24-month period. Additional jury duty exemption bills are being introduced in other states. In Massachusetts, Representative Ultrino introduced HD 1200, an act that would establish a jury duty exemption for breastfeeding parents. In New Jersey, S2236, a bill that would exempt nursing mothers from jury duty when the child is one year of age or younger was reported out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Alabama Reflector: "Alabama House approves bill exempting nursing mothers from jury duty"

Fact Sheet: Paid Leave Means A Stronger Ohio

The National Partnership for Women and Families released the fact sheet, "Paid Leave Means a Stronger Ohio." The fact sheet highlights the costs of the lack of paid leave on Ohioans, their families, and the state’s economy. In Ohio, 72 percent of workers don't have access to paid family leave through their job, contributing to a shrinking workforce, lower productivity, cuts in workers’ incomes, and ultimately harming public health amid a scarcity of reproductive and maternal health care. Media highlights include:

City Beat: "National Study Finds 'Suffering' for Ohio Families and Economy Without Paid Leave"

New York Bill Introduced to Regulate Human Milk Banks

New York Assemblymember Solages introduced Assembly Bill 3034. The bill would require human breast milk banks, companies, and cooperatives to comply with certain standards, ethical practices, and guidelines. The bill exempts mother-to-mother milk sharing groups from its requirements.

Massachusetts Bill Introduced to Improve Access to Breast Pumps

Massachusetts Senator Creem introduced An Act Improving Access to Breast Pumps (Bill SD620). The bill would require insurance and Medicaid coverage for rental of a multi-user breast pump (i.e., one that is able to be used by multiple users safely and hygienically and durable enough to be used by a mother who is expressing milk times per day) by mothers of infants receiving care at an intensive care or special care nursery, or who have certain conditions that prevent direct feeding at the breast. The bill would also require coverage of an initial assessment, instruction and fitting by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant for use of the multi-user breast pump as well as ongoing assessment, support, and refitting as needed.

Alabama Bill Introduced to Grant Paid Parental Leave to State Employees

A pair of bills have been introduced in Alabama (Senate Bill 199 introduced by Senator Figures and House Bill 327 introduced by Representative Shaver) that would provide certain state employees paid parental leave in connection with the birth, stillbirth, or miscarriage of a child or the adoption of a child who is three years of age or younger. Media highlights include: