On May 17, the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives passed a bill requiring schools to provide free period products to students in grades 4-12!
HF 44 is included as part of a larger education spending package. In addition, a higher education package was passed that extends the same requirement and additional funding to colleges and universities to offer free period products.
The passage of this bill makes Minnesota the 16th state to mandate free period products in schools.
At the forefront of this bill are the countless Minnesota students who continued pushing the legislation forward. Advocates credit these students for sharing their stories, speaking out publicly and pressing lawmakers to address the issue of period poverty.
The student movement around this bill has been an inspiration. Watching students come in and share their stories … it just shows a level of bravery and commitment that I don’t remember having when I was their age.
Rep. Sandra Feist, DFL- New Brighton, the chief sponsor of the bill
