NJ Bill Would Require Schools To Have Free Tampons In Bathrooms

NEW JERSEY — There are lots of reasons why a student might miss class time. But a lack of menstrual products should never be one of them, a pair of New Jersey lawmakers say.

On Monday, the New Jersey Senate Education Committee advanced S-1221, which was introduced in February.

If it becomes law, the legislation would require public schools teaching grades six through 12 to provide feminine hygiene products such as tampons and sanitary napkins free of charge in all their bathrooms. Any costs incurred by the school district as a result of the bill would be covered by the state.

The bill was released from the Senate Education Committee by a vote of 3-2. It got yes votes from senators Vin Gopal, Shirley Turner and Sandra Cunningham, each a Democratic Party member. Senators Michael Doherty and Samuel Thompson, both Republicans, voted no.

“No child should miss valuable class time due to lack of access to menstrual products,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, one of the bill’s primary sponsors.

“This legislation will keep students in the classroom by making supplies readily available to those who need them,” Ruiz said. “We must do all that we can to provide equitable education opportunities across the state and this policy will bring us one step closer to that goal.”

Sen. Gopal, another primary sponsor of the bill, said no student should be left to choose between buying lunch or buying menstrual products, or worse – missing school entirely.

“By requiring that these products be available to all of our students, we can help to keep more children in the classroom, especially in our low-income communities,” Gopal said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Doherty offered an explanation of why he voted not to advance the bill, noting that he called for an amendment to clarify it would not require feminine hygiene products to be made available in boys’ bathrooms.

That proposed amendment was tabled, he added.

“It’s absolutely nuts that nobody could tell us in committee [Monday] if the proposed bill applies only to girls’ bathrooms,” Doherty said. “It would be completely and utterly ridiculous to force New Jersey schools to make tampons and sanitary napkins available in boys’ bathrooms. It would be an immense waste of money and is almost certain to lead to vandalism that could be quite costly to repair.”

“The sponsors should accept reasonable amendments to make clear that the legislation applies to girls’ rooms only,” Doherty added.

The bill now goes to the Budget and Appropriations Committee for further review, and potentially a vote before the full Senate. Read the full text of the bill here.

A companion bill, A-1349, has been introduced in the state Assembly.

• See related article: Millburn Teens In Monthly 'Period Club' Help Those In Need
• See related article: Periods Don't Stop In A Pandemic, Say Westfield And Summit Women
• See related article: Hoboken Resident Raises Awareness of Period Poverty

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