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Minnesota Schools and Colleges to Provide Free Menstrual Products

On May 17, the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate passed a comprehensive education spending package.

The package included a new requirement for schools to provide menstrual care products for students in grades 4 to 12 at no charge. The state appropriated US$2 million to implement this requirement, which goes into effect January 1, 2024. A separate higher education package also passed that extends the requirement and additional funding to colleges and universities for the same purpose. Minnesota is the 16th state to require schools to provide these products.

“Thank you to Rep. Sandra Feist for sponsoring this legislation and to the Minnesota State House of Representatives and Senate for passing this important piece of legislation to address period poverty in the state,” said ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. “Since launching our End Period Poverty campaign at the ISSA Show North America last October, we have been excited to see governments, facility managers, and the cleaning industry come together to address the lack of access to menstrual care products in away from home bathrooms. ISSA will continue to engage our members and advocate for public policies related to increasing access to menstrual care dispenser and disposal solutions in restrooms. As we often say, these hygiene products should be as available as toilet paper, paper towels, and soap.”

ISSA will continue to educate and advocate in support of public policies to make menstrual products more available in public restrooms as part of its End Period Poverty campaign.