Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (D-Somerville).

On Thursday, the Senate voted to pass An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products in prisons, homeless shelters, and public schools, offered by Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (D-Somerville).

This bill ensures menstrual products be provided at no cost and free of stigma in public schools, homeless shelters, and prisons. Current policies vary from setting to setting due to lack of resources, capacity, or awareness. This legislation would help fill the gaps by setting a floor for what would be determined as an adequate supply of free products, and therefore, an expectation
that all menstruators’ needs could be met.

“I learned about this issue from young people at Medford High School, Somerville High School, and Cambridge Rindge and Latin who took leadership at the local level to make menstrual hygiene products available in their own communities,” said Senator Jehlen. “This is a true
grassroots movement starting with girls talking about their experiences of missing valuable class time or feeling embarrassed to access products during the school day. These conversations have already started to change the culture and have motivated us to expand this initiative across the state. I am so thankful for the advocacy of students, Mass NOW and the support of Chairs Cyr, Decker as well as Senate President Spilka.”

One of the starkest examples of such gaps is that students miss classes or whole days of school because of challenges they face accessing products both at home and at school during their menstrual cycles. In pre-pandemic years, over half of MA school nurses reported seeing students miss class to access products.

“We filed this bill based on the work of young people in our communities who have made their voices heard and whose dedication to menstrual equity has not wavered,” said Representative Christine Barber and Representative Jay Livingstone. “We are pleased by the Senate’s vote and look forward to building upon their momentum and continuing the work to make this legislation a reality.”

“Menstruation is not a choice,” said Representative Marjorie Decker, Co-Chair of the Public Health Committee. “Half of the world menstruates, and period products are a necessity, not a luxury. This is a human rights issue; one’s dignity should not come at the expense of buying food or medication. Everyone deserves access to menstrual products.”

This bill has the support of many organizations in the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition, led by Mass NOW. The coalition works for menstrual equity, education and removing the stigma around talking about menstruation. “By providing access to free, quality menstrual products to public school students, incarcerated people who menstruate and homeless people who menstruate, we are taking on issues of public health, economic inequality, educational equity, and gender equity all at once,” said Sasha Goodfriend, Executive Director of Mass NOW. “It’s one of the best examples of intersectional lawmaking and feminist policy.”

“The 62-member bipartisan and bicameral Women’s Caucus chose this important piece of legislation as one of just five legislative priorities for this session,” said Women’s Caucus Senate Chair Senator Joan Lovely (D-Salem). “Lack of access to menstrual products impacts the
ability of menstruators to fully participate in society. This bill takes a step toward tackling period poverty, and we are pleased to see it pass the Senate today.”

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives to be taken up for a vot