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TRENTON New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy today signed legislation requiring school districts to provide menstrual products free of charge in every public school teaching grades 6-12.
The law addresses period poverty by providing girls in grades 6-12 with convenient and free access to menstrual hygiene products at school.
The bill (S-1221/A-1349) was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera, Sen. Vin Gopal and Assemblywomen Carol Murphy and Angela McKnight. It passed nearly unanimously, with one no vote.
A study from 2021 found that nearly one in four teenagers throughout the U.S. struggle to afford menstrual products, especially students of color and those from low-income families. Access to menstrual hygiene products helps students focus on learning and prevents unnecessary infections that can cause chronic reproductive health challenges.
Under the new law, applicable schools will be required to provide menstrual products in at least half of all their female and gender-neutral bathrooms. Any costs incurred by a school district in supplying menstrual products to meet the needs of its students will be borne by the state.
When students can't access the menstrual products they need for their reproductive health, the potential stress and stigma too often distracts them from their classes or forces them to skip school entirely leading to social and academic repercussions that no one should have to face, Murphy said. My administration will continue to prioritize the mental and physical health of New Jersey students by taking a holistic approach to supporting their well-being. Promoting menstrual equity in our schools is one crucial component of our ongoing efforts to ensure the success of young people throughout our state and promote equity at every level.
The legislation also requires the NJ Departments of Education and Health to periodically assess if the provision is meeting the needs of menstruating students. If necessary, the department can then issue a recommendation regarding the expansion of access to free menstrual products in grades below grade six.
In 2019, the administration required menstrual hygiene products to be provided free of charge to female inmates in the state correctional system. In addition, the Department of Health has created a website to provide residents with critical information about common menstrual health-related matters.
Menstrual hygiene should never hinder a student's ability to fully engage and thrive in the classroom. By providing free access to these essential products, we are not only promoting health and well-being but also erasing a potential source of discomfort and stigma, Acting Commissioner of Education Angelica Allen-McMillan said.
Having supplies for periods or menstrual cycles in our public schools helps to reduce inequities by increasing access to necessary products that may not be readily available to everyone, Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Kaitlan Baston said. This initiative will not only provide needed support to many school-aged kids with periods, it can also help normalize periods, help people overcome potential embarrassment or distress from not having what they need, and can support positive self-esteem.
More information on period issues and products can be found at nj.gov/health/periods.
