Sponsors (76)
Official title: To increase the availability and affordability of menstrual products for individuals with limited access, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 29, 2025 by Grace Meng · Last progress May 29, 2025
The bill substantially expands free and subsidized access to menstrual products across Medicaid, schools, colleges, detention facilities, workplaces, and federal buildings—reducing out‑of‑pocket costs and improving hygiene for many—but does so at measurable fiscal cost, with uneven coverage depending on grants and state action, and significant administrative and implementation challenges.
Medicaid beneficiaries on state plans will gain coverage for menstrual products, reducing out‑of‑pocket costs and improving menstrual hygiene for low‑income people who rely on Medicaid.
Low‑income people and families will get greater access to free menstrual products through new federal grant programs (SSBG $200M annual program, TANF grants, Emergency Food & Shelter eligibility, campus grants), reducing immediate material deprivation for people who menstruate.
Students in K–12 schools will have free access to menstrual products at school, lowering missed class time and improving attendance and participation for menstruating students.
Taxpayers face substantial new and recurring costs from multiple federal programs and mandates (SSBG $200M/year, TANF grants, Medicaid expansions, campus and school programs, federal agency stocking), increasing federal and institutional spending.
State and local governments risk lost revenue (from sales tax exemptions on menstrual products) and potential cuts to services, and states that do not certify compliance may lose Byrne JAG funding—reducing funds available for law enforcement and other local services.
Access will be uneven: competitive grants, limited campus awards, TANF eligibility restrictions, employer size thresholds (≥100), and state legislative delays for Medicaid mean many people who menstruate could remain unsupported in some places.
Based on analysis of 22 sections of legislative text.
Expands free access to menstrual products across federal programs, bans state sales taxes on menstrual products, adds Medicaid coverage, funds grants for schools, colleges, TANF, and conditions justice grants on in-prison access.
Provides federal funding, grants, and rules to expand free access to menstrual products across safety-net programs, schools, colleges, prisons/detention facilities, federal public buildings, and workplaces. It defines “menstrual products,” creates new and expanded grant programs, requires free provision in certain settings, bans state sales taxes on menstrual products, and adds menstrual products as a covered item under Medicaid and other assistance programs. Funds and new programs are authorized and some amounts appropriated for FY2026–FY2029; the bill also creates reporting and evaluation requirements, conditions certain state criminal-justice grant funds on certification of free in-prison access, and directs the Labor Secretary to issue a workplace rule requiring large employers to provide menstrual products at no cost.