HB415

Unless you have a vagina that bleeds profusely on a monthly basis, don't take away period products from kids you barely teach sex ed to. Do you know how mortifying it is to be in class and suddenly have blood staining your pants because your period came early or even worse, it's your first period and you don't have anything to deal with it? Think about how distracting and discomforting it will be for other students as their classmates bleed all over their seats because you decided that they didn't deserve tampons. Then the janitors have to clean up the blood, the teachers have a crisis to manage, and the child has to be sent home because the blood isn't going to just stop on it's own. Everyone loses if you take away menstrual products, not just the girls who go through hell every single month.

This bill is absolutely ludicrous and I am incredulous that it actually has woman sponsors. There is an allusion in the text that, if passed, this bill; "may" result in cost savings. Aside from that, there appears to be no rationale at all for enacting this bill, and any cost savings would be minimal at best.. As another comment noted, why not remove toilet paper while you are at it ? Or soap? There is no question that teenage girls need access to menstrual products and they should be able to get them in the relative privacy of the girls' restroom.

I vehemently oppose this bill. In my opinion, this would be the same as not providing toilet paper in school bathrooms. Menstruation is not something that the person can control, and everyone should have access to sanitary products to be able to get through the school day. This is yet another obstacle put in front of women and girls that affects their education.

This is an outrage. Of course we should pay for our students to have proper equipment and awareness and education about their monthly menstrual cycles. To deny them this privilege by requiring them to pay for it is putting personal biases into what is a public health emergency and concern

I oppose this bill. Every person deserves access to basic hygiene products. I am appalled that this bill is being introduced.

Taking away menstrual products from school bathrooms is like taking away toilet paper. Periods happen just like pee or poop. Periods are unavoidable for half the population. Some girls rely on access to period products directly from their school because their families cannot afford pads or tampons. This is the last place the NH legislature should be looking to cut budget. Please do not pass this bill.

I oppose this bill because it is a shameful attack on young women in this state. I find it extremely troubling that anyone would want to remove access to menstrual products in schools. Many Republicans seemed obsessed with biology, so let me remind you that menstruation is a biological process that happens regardless of whether or not you approve of it. How many sponsors of this bill have ever bled through a pair of pants in middle or high school? I suspect none.

There are schools in NH that are providing for low income students. If the schools do not provide menstrual products for these students, they may not receive them anywhere else. These low income students deserve to have this care.

Menstrual products are like any bathroom supply (toilet paper, paper towels, soap). Cost is trivial, and providing them creates a better school environment for girls.

Menstrual cycles are a normal human experience for those who have periods. For many, middle and high school is a difficult time of learning to navigate this new developmental stage. The least we can do is provide access to free menstrual products to lessen the burden on students during their period. Especially for those from low-income families who might struggle to obtain these items themselves. Students should not be subject to embarrassment or lack of resources over a bodily function of which they don’t have control. Also, providing these products is not only beneficial for students’ mental and physical health, but it also would cut down on learning loss. If a student is caught off guard by their period, they might have to take additional time to find a menstrual product (go to the nurse, or leave school). If they know they can have access to a pad or tampon in the bathroom, then this would cut down on time spent out of the classroom as they can take care of business quickly and without fear of being without a pad or tampon.

As a woman who started having their period in 5th grade, I strongly oppose this bill. My best friend started her cycle in 4th grade, and her mother came to our school and advocated for menstrual products and disposal bins to be brought to school. We did not get to choose when we would experience our first cycle, and it was hard enough to deal with these often debilitating processes at a young age. By removing these products from schools, you will create yet another barrier for our adolescents and children. This also disproportionately impacts young girls/women who are experiencing poverty, or those who have more difficulties accessing these products. I strongly oppose this bill.

Providing students who experience periods with the appropriate products is a basic necessity. Menstrual cycles are just as much a normal and regular bodily function as relieving one’s bowels/bladder. It would be inconceivable to remove toilet paper from public school bathrooms, yet this bill would be removing essential products for basic human needs. How anyone could be okay with taking away this resource from students is beyond comprehension.

I am an obstetrician/gynecologist, making me and my colleagues experts on this topic. The impact that menstrual cycles have on adolescents and young women can be profound, and at times, affects activities of daily living and quality of life. This simple invaluable measure, to make menstrual products readily available without additional obstacle, will support girls and young women in impactful and meaningful ways. Not only does the move normalize menstruation, through its action it demonstrates that we, as a community/society, care about our girls’ health, wellbeing, and education. “When girls and young women have readily available access to menstrual products, they are able to return to class quickly, without diversion, and get back to learning”

I am a retired teacher. I beg of you to not vote this bill in.

What is your end goal in denying basic sanitation and health products which are a human right? You don't want girls to be in school, you agree with the Taliban? Don't be purposely cruel, support students in being able to learn while clean and safe.

I definitely oppose this bill.

When girls and young women have easy access to menstrual products, they are able to return back to class quickly, and get back to learning!

Having free and available menstrual products for people that have periods is extremely important to their well being. Periods can come suddenly and are oftentimes unpredictable. so having access to them at a moments notice eases the mind of many young people. Additionally, period products are expensive and many do not have easy access to them at home, leaving schools to be the easiest way to get these necessary materials. Without access to menstrual products, young people who do experience periods every month will be subject to worry in classes and will feel less comfortable in a learning environment where they spend most of their days.

This bill only being introduced to distract from real world problems. If menstrual products aren’t going to be provided, then students should also be required to bring their own toilet paper. This bill is simply nonsense. Our state government needs to stop discussing culture war topics that are simply a waste of time and work to actually improve New Hampshire with substantive bills based in reality and not this fool’s fight.

I oppose this bill as I believe it is unfair and frankly cruel to not have menstrual products available in schools. Not all students can afford menstrual products or may not have access to them for a variety of reasons and this law would result in undo hardships, shame and embarrassment while providing negligible foreseeable benefits. What is the downside of having such products available? The only reason stated in the bill is potential cost savings for school districts. This is laughable given the cost of such products in the grand scheme of a school district’s budget. What’s next, taking away napkins from the cafeteria? This bill should never have been brought under consideration and I would hope any representative with an ounce of compassion and common sense will oppose it.

Providing menstrual products to students is absolute bare minimum care. Are we going to take away toilet paper and cough drops next? Girls and people who menstruate deserve to feel comfortable and secure at school. Period. Do the right thing for our students.

Oh, for heavens sake. You want the girls to bleed all over themselves!!

I am strongly opposed to this bill as everyone should have equal access to the products they need for basic bodily functions. Menstruating is not something one can control and students who menstruate should not be punished for it - especially not while they are trying to gain an education. Should this bill be passed there will be students who cannot afford to gain access to menstrual products at all and their education will suffer for it. If someone cannot afford to hygienically navigate their period they will be forced to stay home and on a monthly basis fall further behind their peers. Is it the intent of this house to limit the education for those who menstruate or force other students to be in bio hazardous conditions? Shame on this house for prioritizing not wanting to provide menstrual products to students rather than dealing with the larger issues at hand such as gun violence in schools. I am appalled and this bill should not be passed.

There are so many young females who menstruate who do not have access to appropriate hygiene products. If they are required to be in school while menstruating, we should be providing them the resources needed to have proper hygiene so they can focus on their learning and not have to worry about their menstrual cycle.

Menstrual hygiene products are a basic necessity for something that naturally occurs in the bodies of half the population. New Hampshire passed a law in 2019 that requires public middle and high schools to provide free menstrual products in restrooms. Providing basic necessities like toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues are standard operating procedures for schools, and menstrual hygiene products, that are needed by half the population, should continue to be considered standard basic necessities too. When girls and young women have readily available access to menstrual products, they are able to return to class quickly, without diversion, and get back to learning; they avoid stressful situations and distractions during the school day, and they are treated with respect by supplying them with what they need where they are. Girls who don't have access to menstrual products from home, either because they don't have caregivers they can ask for products or their caregivers can't afford products, are more likely to skip school when they menstruate leading to missed instruction and poor educational outcomes. Many students over the years have advocated for menstrual products in school bathrooms and we continue their advocacy yet again. I strongly oppose this bill. Please do not support this.