Bill > HB1123

This bill establishes a pilot program within the Department of Social Services to provide financial assistance for menstrual hygiene products and diapers to individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a program designed to help families with low incomes. Specifically, the program will offer a monthly benefit of fourteen dollars for participants aged eighteen to fifty who menstruate, to cover costs of items like menstrual cups, sanitary napkins, and tampons, and thirty dollars per month for each dependent child under the age of three to help with diaper expenses. These benefits will be distributed electronically on the same day as regular TANF payments, and participants will receive information on how to use the funds. The department will also implement procedures to ensure the money is spent on the intended items and to reclaim any unused benefits if a participant no longer qualifies. The program is set to expire on June 30, 2029, and by September 1, 2029, the Department of Social Services must report to the Legislature on the program's effectiveness, including participation numbers, total funds distributed, and recommendations for its future. A total of $2,500,000 is appropriated from the general fund to finance this pilot program, which will become effective on June 30, 2026.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/26685