New Hampshire House passes bill requiring free menstrual products in schools

The New Hampshire House passed legislation this week that would require schools to supply women’s and gender-neutral bathrooms with free menstrual products, The Associated Press reports.

According to the news agency, the state House passed the bill in a 211-135 vote on Wednesday. The bill now heads to New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) for consideration.

{mosads}The measure, also called the “period poverty” bill, states it that would require “school boards to make feminine hygiene products available, free of charge, in girls restrooms located in public high schools.” 

The Foster’s Daily Democrat reported that the legislation was inspired by local high school student Caroline Dillon, who spoke out previously about how some of her fellow students had missed school because their families struggled to afford menstrual products.

“I know for a fact that girls here and at the middle school will stay home if they don’t have access,” Dillon previously said, according to the local paper, “and they’ll [do] awful things like using socks or newspaper or reusing things, and your risk for infection skyrockets.”