Students in grades 6-12 could soon have access to free menstrual products in school bathrooms, thanks to a bill unanimously passed by the Iowa House Education Committee in early March.
The Details
Under the proposed bill, House File 543, school districts would be required to ensure that free period products are made accessible for students in at least half of the restrooms in both middle and high school buildings.
The initial draft of the bill required school districts to “ensure that feminine hygiene products are available to students at no cost in at least half of the restrooms within school buildings.” However, during a committee meeting, amendments revised the wording, changing “students” to “female students” and modifying “in at least half of the restrooms” to “women’s restrooms.”
If the bill is passed, Iowa schools would receive funding to cover the cost of pads and tampons for the next three school years. Schools would also be responsible for regularly refilling supplies in bathrooms.
Legislation Advocacy
Numerous students and parents spoke at the bill’s subcommittee meeting to advocate for the legislation.
Your options are begging people around you for a spare product, the coin-operated dispensers… missing more class time than you already have to visit the nurse or use what’s available, stuffing toilet paper into your underwear, hoping you don’t bleed through your pants during the day.
Maanya Pandey, a junior at the University of Iowa and the founder of Love for Red, a nonprofit on the mission to increase access to period care across the state of Iowa
Pandey, along with other students involved in Love for Red, testified in support of the proposal. She said not having access to period products when needed can lead to students having to miss class or stay home from school, which, over time, could result in chronic absenteeism. Pandey also mentioned that Love for Red has supported over 30 school districts across Iowa, including more than 60 schools.
Bill Sponsorship and Support
The bill’s sponsor, Representative David Young, said the bill is a result of concerns from students, school administrators and parents — specifically single parents — who “could really use the support and make sure that their children, their daughters, can have [acess to period products] and stay in school.”
Rep. Young referred to the bill as “a bipartisan issue of fairness.”
If you can take care of the boys’ bodily functions, why not treat the girls equally, right?
Representative David Young
No groups were registered against the bill at the subcommittee meeting. All three representatives on the bill’s subcommittee—Rep. Ryan Weldon, Rep. Heather Matson and Rep. Dan Gehlbach—supported the bill.
Representative Matson said she is “thrilled” that the House is considering the bill.
High school me would also have been incredibly grateful for this. Every woman and girl knows what this is like, and I am incredibly grateful that we are having this conversation.
Representative Heather Matson
