NASHVILLE, Tenn. — State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, has introduced a bill to guarantee that girls have access to feminine hygiene products at school.
House Bill 39 proposes the Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act which would provide feminine hygiene products at no cost to students in public and charter high schools across the state.
“Menstrual cycles can be unpredictable and every woman knows the awkward feeling of being caught without appropriate period products. This is a situation our young girls should never have to experience, especially at school,” Davis said. “Feminine hygiene products are as essential as toilet paper and are not a luxury. My goal is to bring dignity to these young ladies, keep them healthy, and ensure they can stay in the classroom.”
Tennessee taxes menstrual products as non-essential luxury goods, which means that public assistance programs such as TANF and WIC do not cover the cost of these necessary products.
Two out of three teens reported stress due to the lack of access to period products in their schools. Those experiencing period poverty may use toilet paper, rags and old clothes during their menstrual cycle due to the inability to access sanitary pads, tampons or other period products.
If passed, feminine hygiene products would be placed in the women and girl’s restrooms, locker rooms and nurse’s office.
This school year, Knox County Schools implemented a similar initiative in their 13 high schools. Each school has a “student representative” that monitors the supply of feminine products in the school bathrooms and reports when the items need to be restocked through a QR code.
“I’m grateful to the Knox County School board members who recognized the importance of providing feminine hygiene products for their students,” Davis said. “Thanks to their initiative, we will be able to see the positive impact it is having on the students, and further advocate for statewide implementation.”
The 114th General Assembly will convene on Jan. 14, 2025.
State Rep. Elaine Davis represents House District 18, which includes parts of Knox County.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://tnhousegop.org/state-rep-elaine-davis-proposes-free-feminine-hygiene-products-in-schools/