NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee lawmakers are discussing a bill aimed at making sure high school students across the state can access free feminine hygiene products like tampons, panty liners or menstrual cups.
The bill, SB 2728, was introduced by Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D - Memphis). Its counterpart in the House of Representatives, HB 2207, was introduced by Rep. Elaine Davis (R - Knoxville). If passed, students would be able to get feminine hygiene products at no charge from girls' locker rooms, girls' bathrooms and from the school nurse.
"In Tennessee, these products are currently taxed as a non-essential, luxury good, which means that public assistance programs such as TANF and WIC do not cover this absolutely essential product," Akbari said during a committee meeting. "We want our kids to be able to be in school, and we want them to be uncomfortable and have the tools they need. It is estimated that one in four students have stayed home during certain times of the month due to a lack of access to adequate menstrual products."
She also said the bill would follow the lead of around 20 other states which passed similar laws.
The bill specifically excludes bathrooms and locker rooms designated only for teachers and staff and said feminine hygiene products would only be for students. An amendment also specifies that the products would not include "grooming and hygiene products," and changes the legal definition of "feminine hygiene product" to the same definition in federal law.
To help pay for feminine hygiene products, the bill would create an account in the Tennessee treasury known as the "menstrual hygiene products accessibility account." It would be administered by the Department of Education, and 20% of the state's sales tax on feminine hygiene products would be deposited into the account.
The bill's fiscal note estimated that the account would bring in around $3.968 million per year, and increase state expenses by the same amount. It estimated that counties and cities would need to pay around $5.7 million to provide feminine hygiene products — partly covered by the state's revenue.
After applying the money from the state, county and city expenses are expected to increase by around $1.4 million, according to the fiscal note. It also estimated the average Tennessee woman spends around $180 each year on feminine hygiene products.
The Senate version of the bill will be discussed in the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee. In the House, it was placed behind the budget.