ST. PAUL, MN — Democrat Tim Walz's selection as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate has brought national attention and criticism to the bills he's signed into law as Minnesota's governor.
Some of the most progressive laws in Minnesota's history were passed in the last two years, during the period when Democrats held a trifecta in the state government.
Among those laws is one that requires public schools in Minnesota to provide menstrual products at no charge to students. The bill went into effect Jan. 1.
The products, which include pads and tampons, must be available in restrooms "regularly" used by students in grades 4 to 12.
The state will supply the funding for the tampons with "$2 times the adjusted pupil units of the school district for the school year," the law states.
Rep. Sandra Feist, a Democrat from New Brighton who pioneered the measure, said in January that the associated cost of the measure would be a "wise investment" because it would keep students from missing school due to "period poverty."
"One out of every 10 menstruating youth miss school during their menstruating cycle due to lack of access to menstrual products and resources," Feist said in a House Education Finance Committee hearing.
A Republican-backed amendment to add the word "female" to the bill failed in committee. "Not all students who menstruate are female," Feist said, persuading committee members to vote "no" on the amendment.
Feist said some schools have gender-neutral bathrooms. She acknowledged that female students use menstruation products more often, but said it is still important to have them in all bathrooms.
Editor's note: A previous version of this article has been updated to reflect that the law does not specifically require tampons in boys' bathrooms.
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