Despite widespread support, ‘menstrual equity’ bill has stalled for two sessions in the House

July 30, 2025
By Bhaamati Borkhetaria

Two years ago, Senate President Karen Spilka called it a “simple” proposition to make menstrual products available in public spaces like schools, prisons, and homeless shelters. At a 2023 hearing on a bill that would do that, Sen. Julian Cyr, the vice chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health, called it “absurd that menstrual products aren’t readily available in every and all public locations.” 

But getting a “menstrual equity” bill across the finish line has been anything but simple.

In two consecutive legislative sessions, the Senate passed a version of a bill that would provide disposable menstrual products at no cost in prisons, emergency housing hotels, homeless shelters, and public schools, but the legislation stalled both times in the House Ways and Means Committee.

Advocates are hoping the third time will be the charm. The bill was favorably reported out of the Joint Committee on Public Health earlier this month and sent to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.    

There isn’t public opposition to the bill, according to advocates, legislators, and lobbying records. The Women’s Caucus, a bipartisan group of 60 lawmakers, listed the policy among its top five priorities. The Senate version of the bill has 22 cosponsors. The House bill has more than 50 lawmakers petitioning in support of the bill.  

House Speaker Ron Mariano’s office did not comment when asked why his chamber has not acted on this bill in the last two sessions. A spokesperson for Mariano said that he will review the bill this session if it is advanced by the House members of the public health committee.  

When the Senate approved the bill two years ago, Spilka suggested its passage should be an easy call. “I don’t say that very often for bills coming through the Legislature, but this one is simple,” Spilka said at a press conference following the October 2023 vote. “If we truly believe in equality for women and menstruating people, then making period products accessible is something that we absolutely need to do.”

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