Updates the Medicaid definition of “medical assistance” to include menstrual products as a covered item and adds a federal definition of “menstrual product.”
Adds a new program guideline allowing program amounts provided to private nonprofits and local governments to be used to provide menstrual products, and adds a definition of “menstrual product.”
Adds a new clause (viii) allowing provision of free menstrual products to students who use menstrual products, and makes related punctuation edits to clauses (vi) and (vii).
Adds a definition of “menstrual product” as new paragraph (6) and redesignates existing paragraphs (6) through (8) as (7) through (9).
Adds a new paragraph (6) creating competitive grants for menstrual products, including definitions, award criteria, administration, non-assistance treatment, and a standing appropriation.
Redesignates subsection (h) as (i) and adds a new subsection (h) requiring biennial written reports to Congress evaluating the menstrual-product grant benefit program in section 603(a)(6).
Temporarily sets (deems) the amount specified in subsection (c) for purposes of SSBG allotments to $1.9 billion for each of FY2026–FY2029.
Adds a new subsection (h) requiring the Secretary to issue a rule requiring employers with at least 100 employees to provide menstrual products free of charge to employees, and defining “menstrual product.”
Last progress May 29, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on May 29, 2025 by Grace Meng
Provides federal funding and new rules so menstrual products are free and available for people who need them in many settings. It authorizes SSBG funding for States to distribute products to low-income people, creates TANF and education grants, adds menstrual products to Medicaid coverage, requires schools and many colleges to provide free products, mandates free access in jails/detention and federal prisons/detention facilities, directs free supplies in federal building restrooms, bans State/local sales taxes on menstrual products, and requires large employers to provide free products to employees under an OSHA rule. The bill sets spending authorizations and small appropriations, creates reporting and evaluation requirements, defines covered products and eligible entities, and attaches compliance conditions to certain federal grants (for example, Byrne JAG). Implementation timelines vary by provision (some take effect within months; many funding programs begin in fiscal year 2026).
For purposes of section 2003(c) of the Social Security Act, the amount is deemed to be $1,900,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029, of which $200,000,000 (reduced by reserved amounts) shall be obligated by States under subsection (b).
Appropriates $200,000,000 from the Treasury for each fiscal year 2026 through 2029 to carry out this section.
Secretary must reserve not more than 2 percent each fiscal year from the appropriated amount to enter into an agreement with an eligible nonprofit to provide technical assistance, training, and help administer the program.
For fiscal year 2026, the Secretary may reserve up to $2,000,000 to conduct the evaluation required under subsection (d).
Amounts reserved under the reservation clause are not subject to State entitlement under section 2002(a) of the Social Security Act.
Primary beneficiaries are people who menstruate — especially low‑income individuals, students (K–12 and college), people experiencing homelessness, and people who are incarcerated or detained. The bill aims to reduce health risks, missed school/work days, and economic burdens tied to period poverty by increasing product access in schools, colleges, shelters, detention facilities, prisons, federal buildings, and via Medicaid and TANF supports.
State and local governments will be directly affected: some receive federal SSBG funds to deliver products, while all are prohibited from taxing menstrual products (reducing sales tax revenue). States receiving Byrne JAG funds must certify compliance or face cuts, which creates a compliance incentive but also administrative burden. Employers with 100+ employees will face a new compliance obligation once OSHA issues a rule; that will impose costs for product procurement and stocking. Federal agencies must stock products in covered federal restrooms and provide free products in federal prisons and DHS detention facilities — creating new operational responsibilities and costs borne by federal budgets.
Medicaid coverage expansion could increase federal and state Medicaid spending over time (federal matching applies), and some program starts or funding authorizations begin in FY2026, so budget and implementation planning will be needed. Reporting, evaluation, and rulemaking timelines create phased implementation and opportunities to monitor outcomes, but also administrative workloads for agencies and grantees. Potential legal or federalism questions could arise over the federal prohibition on State/local sales taxes. Overall, the bill centrally shifts access to menstrual products from private purchase to public provision in many settings, with both public health and fiscal implications.
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Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Updated 6 days ago
Last progress February 4, 2025 (1 year ago)
