Tennessee State Representative Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville) introduced a bill that would require all local educational agencies and public charter schools to provide free feminine hygiene products at each public senior high school for female student use.
Davis’ bill, filed as HB 0039, is being called the Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act.
Under the bill, all public senior high schools, including charters, would be required to “provide feminine hygiene products, at no charge, in all women’s and girls’ bathrooms, in all locker rooms, and with the school nurse in each eligible school building where instruction is provided.”
Feminine hygiene products are described in the bill as products or materials “designed for feminine hygiene in connection with menstruation or other genital-tract secretions,” which includes “tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, sanitary napkins, and other similar personal products or materials.”
The bill specifically states that the feminine hygiene products under the legislation is for “student use only,” clarifying that such products should not be provided in spaces utilized by teachers or staff.
The Tennessee Department of Education would be authorized under the bill to “develop policies and provide guidance” to schools under its requirements.
If passed, the bill would go into effect on July 1, 2025.
Upon introducing the bill, Davis cited a study that showed two out of three teens “reported stress due to the lack of access to period products in their schools” and that students who are experiencing period poverty “may use toilet paper, rags and old clothes during their menstrual cycle due to the inability to access sanitary pads, tampons or other period products.”
“Menstrual cycles can be unpredictable and every woman knows the awkward feeling of being caught without appropriate period products. This is a situation our young girls should never have to experience, especially at school,” Davis said in a statement.
“Feminine hygiene products are as essential as toilet paper and are not a luxury. My goal is to bring dignity to these young ladies, keep them healthy, and ensure they can stay in the classroom,” Davis added.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Lets make sure the wording is specific, and that it states these will be available in the women’s or girls shower rooms and lavatories. The last thing TN needs is to go through a Tampon Tim episode whereby these items will need to be available in the boys rooms due to gender dysphoria afflicted persons..