Bill > S2546

This bill aims to increase access to disposable menstrual products by requiring three types of institutions to provide free menstrual products to individuals who menstruate: temporary housing assistance providers, public schools, and correctional facilities. Specifically, the bill mandates that family shelters, emergency housing, domestic violence shelters, schools (elementary and secondary), and lockup or correctional facilities must make menstrual products like sanitary napkins, tampons, and underwear liners available at no cost to menstruating individuals. The products must be placed in readily accessible locations, such as restrooms, and distributed in a manner that minimizes stigmatization. By defining "menstruating individual" broadly and requiring products to be freely available across these settings, the bill seeks to address period poverty and ensure that people who menstruate have access to necessary hygiene products regardless of their economic situation or institutional setting. The bill applies to various public and institutional spaces where individuals might otherwise struggle to obtain these essential products.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Public Health (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2546