Alabama HB50

Alabama's House Bill 50 (HB50) establishes a grant program to provide free menstrual products to students in public schools that serve grades 5 through 12 and receive Title I funds. The program, administered by the State Department of Education, allocates funds to local boards of education based on the number of female students in eligible schools. Schools that accept the grant must make these products readily available in restrooms and through designated female staff members at no cost to students. The initiative is contingent on the availability of funds, which may be sourced from state appropriations or private donations, and any unspent funds will carry over to the following fiscal year.

Arkansas Act 933

House Bill 1611, enacted as Act 933 of the 2021 Regular Session of the Arkansas General Assembly, mandates that public schools and open-enrollment public charter schools serving grades 6-12 must inform students about the availability of free menstrual products. The bill authorizes these schools to use their funding to provide these products in specified locations within the school, ensuring that they are accessible to students at no cost.

California AB 367

The Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021 in California recognizes access to menstrual products as a basic human right essential for health, dignity, and full participation in public life. The law requires public schools serving grades 6-12, with a certain percentage of low-income students, to provide free menstrual products in at least 50% of their restrooms. Starting in the 2022–23 school year, all public schools in California must offer these products in women’s restrooms, all-gender restrooms, and at least one men’s restroom. The law also mandates that California State University and community colleges provide free menstrual products at accessible campus locations and encourages similar actions from other higher education institutions. The Act aims to promote gender equity, reduce absenteeism, and ensure that all students, regardless of gender, have access to necessary hygiene products to support their education and well-being.

Colorado SB 21-255

Senate Bill 21-255, passed by the Colorado General Assembly, establishes the Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Grant Program. This program provides grants to schools with 50% or more students eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch, the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, and approved facility schools to ensure menstrual hygiene products are accessible to students at no cost, regardless of gender identity. Schools can use the grants to acquire and distribute these products, install dispensing machines, or maintain disposal receptacles. The bill also requires grant recipients to submit reports detailing the number of students and restrooms, and the implementation of the program.

Connecticut HB 5272

In 2022, the Connecticut General Assembly passed new legislation requiring public schools to supply a range of menstrual products in school restrooms. The intention of the law is to address period poverty, meaning the struggle to purchase period products due to lack of income. The law encompasses elementary, middle, and high schools, with the goal of promoting period equity and dignity for all menstruating students, so that they can fully participate in school life without shame or stigma.

Delaware HB 20

Delaware HB 20 mandates that all public and charter schools serving grades 6-12 must provide free feminine hygiene products in at least 50% of the bathrooms accessible to students who menstruate. Additionally, schools are required to publicly disclose the locations of these bathrooms on their websites and in common areas within the school. The bill also stipulates that each school must collaborate with its school nurse to determine which products will be made available.

Georgia HB 861

House Bill 861 is designed to enhance access to disposable menstrual products across multiple sectors in Georgia. The bill proposes amendments to three key areas of the Georgia Code. First, it mandates that public schools with grades 6 through 12 provide these products free of charge in all restrooms. The Department of Education is tasked with creating model policies and offering guidance to assist local schools in implementing this requirement effectively. Second, the bill requires that penal institutions provide menstrual products at no cost to individuals confined within them, ensuring that these products are accessible in a non-stigmatizing manner. Finally, the bill extends this requirement to various types of social service shelters, including family shelters, domestic violence shelters, and emergency accommodations, obligating them to supply menstrual products for free. The overarching goal of the bill is to make menstrual products more accessible while maintaining dignity and privacy for menstruating individuals.

Senate Bill No. 2821, introduced in Hawaii's 2022 legislative session, addresses menstrual equity by mandating the provision of free menstrual products to all students across public school campuses. The bill underscores the prevalence of period poverty affecting student health and educational outcomes. It cites studies showing that inadequate access to menstrual products leads to school absenteeism and health risks. The legislation builds on evidence from the Hoohanohano initiative, which demonstrated that providing free menstrual products reduces barriers to access, decreases absenteeism, and improves student well-being.

The bill highlights that period poverty is exacerbated by factors such as income constraints and stigma, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups. It notes the success of similar policies in other states and countries and emphasizes that menstrual products are as essential as other basic hygiene supplies. The purpose of the bill is to promote educational and gender equity by ensuring that all public schools in Hawaii provide menstrual products at no cost to students. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2022.

Illinois HB 156

House Bill 0156, introduced by Rep. Barbara Hernandez, amends the Illinois School Code to enhance access to menstrual hygiene products in public schools. The bill mandates that all school districts provide menstrual products, such as tampons and sanitary napkins, free of charge to students in every bathroom of every school building serving grades 6 through 12. This change addresses the ongoing need for such products and aims to reduce school absenteeism caused by lack of access.

Maine LD 452

This bill mandates that all schools serving students in grades 6 through 12 must provide menstrual products free of charge in every school bathroom.

Maryland HB 205

The Maryland General Assembly has passed a law requiring public schools to provide free menstrual hygiene products. By October 1, 2022, middle and high schools must install dispensers in at least two women's restrooms, with additional dispensers in men's restrooms by August 1, 2025. Elementary schools must have at least one dispenser by October 1, 2022. The state will reimburse counties for installation costs, with a $500,000 budget allocation for fiscal year 2023.

Minnesota HF 44

The Minnesota Legislature has proposed a bill to enhance access to menstrual products in schools. The bill mandates that school districts and charter schools provide free menstrual products, including pads and tampons, in restrooms for students in grades 4 through 12, starting January 1, 2024. The bill also increases operating capital aid for districts to cover the costs of these products and amends existing statutes to include menstrual product costs as an eligible expense for operating capital revenue. Additionally, the state will reimburse districts for the installation of menstrual product dispensers, with the financial provisions becoming effective for fiscal year 2024 and beyond.

Missouri HB 3002

Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education was allocated $1,000,000 in the state budget to supply period products in all public schools.

Nevada AB 169

Assembly Bill No. 169, introduced by Assemblywomen Gorelow, Bilbray-Axelrod, Thomas, González, Duran, and Summers-Armstrong on February 15, 2023, proposes new regulations for labeling feminine hygiene products in Nevada. Starting January 1, 2025, the bill requires that each package or box of feminine hygiene products sold or distributed in the state must have a clear and conspicuous label listing all ingredients. The bill defines "feminine hygiene products" to include items such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups. Violations of this labeling requirement will be classified as a gross misdemeanor. The bill also outlines provisions for reasonable label variations and exemptions for small packages. Sections 1 to 4 of the bill will be effective upon passage and approval, with preparatory administrative tasks beginning immediately.

New Hampshire SB 142

The Act mandates that school districts provide menstrual hygiene products free of charge in all gender-neutral and female-designated restrooms at public middle and high schools. These products include sanitary napkins and tampons. The responsibility for covering the costs falls on the school district, though they may seek grants or collaborate with non-profit organizations to meet this requirement.

New Mexico 134

House Bill 134 requires the New Mexico Public Education Department to provide free menstrual products in public schools. The bill mandates that menstrual products be available at no charge in all women's bathrooms, gender-neutral bathrooms, and at least one men's bathroom in every public middle school, junior high school, secondary school, and high school. An appropriation is included to fund this requirement.

New York SB S5910B

The bill amends the Public Health Law to require all public colleges and universities in New York to provide menstrual products in restrooms at no charge to students. The bill, which has been amended and reprinted multiple times, is set to take effect immediately upon becoming law.

North Carolina Feminine Hygiene Products Grant Program

The Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) NC Healthy Schools Section offered a Feminine Hygiene Products Grant Program, providing up to $5,000 to public school units (PSUs) on a first-come, first-served basis. Out of 149 applications, DPI awarded 64 grants totaling $250,000. The funds will be used for purchasing tampons, pads, underwear, and educational materials on puberty. Awardees reported that the grants will support students by improving access to menstrual products, reducing embarrassment, and minimizing school absences. The grants also help address financial barriers for students in rural and low-income areas, support hygiene maintenance, and alleviate the financial burden on teachers and staff.

Ohio HB 33

Effective October 3, 2023, Ohio law mandates that all public schools serving students in grades 6 through 12 provide free menstrual products. This requirement, impacting over 476,000 female students, is designed to improve student wellness by eliminating barriers to regular attendance and promoting healthy habits. Schools can choose from various types of dispensers, such as wall units or countertop baskets, and decide where they are placed to ensure discreet access. They are also free to select the types of products offered, including tampons, panty liners, and sanitary napkins, and may provide educational materials on their use. The state has allocated $5 million to support this initiative, with $2 million designated for installing dispensers and $3 million for reimbursing product costs. Schools needed to request dispenser funding by September 15, and they must submit reimbursement requests by June 28, 2024. To ensure long-term success, schools are encouraged to develop sustainability plans and engage the school community in the planning and implementation process.

Oregon HB 3294

House Bill 3294, enacted by the Oregon Legislative Assembly in 2021, requires all public education providers, including school districts, charter schools, education service districts, community colleges, and public universities, to provide tampons and sanitary pads at no cost to students. This law, effective July 1, 2021, mandates that these products be available through dispensers in at least two student bathrooms per public school building, or in the single bathroom if only one is available. The State Board of Education and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission will establish rules regarding the number of dispensers, types of products, and funding mechanisms. The bill allocates funds to cover the costs, including $2 million for dispensers and $3 million for product reimbursement. Public education providers are protected from liability related to the use of these products. The law aims to eliminate barriers to school attendance and support student health.

Rhode Island S 0086A

Governor Daniel McKee has signed legislation into law, sponsored by Sen. Valarie J. Lawson and Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, requiring all public schools to provide free feminine hygiene products. Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, public schools for grades five through twelve must offer these products in gender-neutral and female-designated bathrooms at no cost. The law aims to prevent students from missing school due to a lack of access to these essential items, promoting equal access and dignity for students. Both sponsors emphasize that feminine hygiene products are as necessary as toilet paper and should be readily available to support student health and prevent embarrassment.

Utah HB 162

Utah has enacted legislation requiring all local education agencies (LEAs) and charter schools to provide free period products in female and unisex restrooms in elementary through high schools, starting July 1, 2022. Schools must also inform students about the availability of these products. To cover the costs, LEAs and charter schools are required to use specifically appropriated funds and integrate the provision of period products into their ongoing budgets by July 1, 2025. The state board will oversee implementation and compliance with these requirements.

Virginia HB 405

This bill mandates that each school board must provide tampons or pads at no cost to students, always ensuring their availability. These products should be placed in accessible locations within each elementary school and in the bathrooms of every middle and high school within the local school division.