TN Bill Proposes Free Feminine Hygiene Products in High Schools

TL/DR –

Tennessee lawmakers are considering a bill, SB 2728, which would require high schools to provide free feminine hygiene products like tampons, panty liners, or menstrual cups in girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and from the school nurse in an attempt to reduce absenteeism. The bill seeks to establish a “menstrual hygiene products accessibility account” in the Tennessee treasury, with 20% of the state’s sales tax on feminine hygiene products being deposited into this account. The bill’s fiscal note estimates that this would generate around $3.968 million per year and increase state expenses by the same amount, with counties and cities needing to pay around $5.7 million to provide the products.

Tennessee Bill Aims to Provide Free Feminine Hygiene Products in High Schools

Tennessee lawmakers are introducing a bill, SB 2728, aiming to ensure high school students have access to free feminine hygiene products. Its House of Representatives counterpart, HB 2207, follows the same objective.

Bill proposer Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D – Memphis) highlighted the issue of taxing these products as non-essential, luxury goods, preventing their cover by public assistance programs. One in four students, she mentioned, have skipped school due to inadequate menstrual product access.

This bill aligns Tennessee with twenty other states adopting similar laws. However, it specifies that free feminine hygiene products would not include “grooming and hygiene products” and are only for students, excluding teachers and staff bathrooms.

The bill proposes a “menstrual hygiene products accessibility account” in the Tennessee treasury, funded by 20% of the state’s sales tax on feminine hygiene products. This account aims to cover the costs of providing these products to students.

The bill’s fiscal note estimates an annual revenue of around $3.968 million from this account, subsequently increasing state expenses by the same amount. Counties and cities will need an estimated $5.7 million to provide these products, partially covered by the state’s revenue.

After applying state funding, county and city expenses are expected to increase by around $1.4 million. Furthermore, the fiscal note estimates a typical Tennessee woman spends about $180 each year on feminine hygiene products.

The Senate version of the bill will be discussed in the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, while in the House, it was placed behind the budget.

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