MD bill would require schools to offer free menstrual products to students

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A bill has also been introduced in the Maryland General Assembly that would require public schools to provide free menstrual products to students in bathrooms. Officials say the legislation, known as House Bill 208, would ensure that those products are provided via dispensers inside restrooms at every school. Legislators tell 47 ABC this bill is long overdue. They add that supporting this piece of legislation is important in order to help make access to these kinds of products easier for students.

“I realize that it’s an issue that should’ve been addressed and many decades ago and I’m glad they were moving forward to that. It’s going to provide the opportunity for equal learning for everybody and to move things out of the way that may be a roadblock towards that,” said Delegate Carl Anderton (R-District 38B).

Sponsors of the bill say if passed, they would hope to have these products in at least two restrooms in schools by October 1st, and in all restrooms by August of 2024.