A committee vote at the Capitol has advanced a proposal concerning free menstrual products in all student bathrooms.
The legislation would direct Minnesota public and charter schools to make menstrual products available without charge in restrooms serving older elementary, middle-school, and high-school students.
Republican Rep. Dean Urdahl offered an amendment limiting the requirement to restrooms used by female students. He argued that the products should be most available to girls, but committee members voted the amendment down.
Feist said the bill was written to cover all students who might need the products, including students using gender-neutral or boys’ restrooms. She described stigma and the need to ask for supplies as additional barriers.
The bill’s funding mechanism is a $2 per-pupil increase for district operating-capital revenue. Supporters contend that the expense could reduce avoidable absences.
Local implementation details would matter to schools serving Vadnais Heights, particularly restroom placement, purchasing, and reimbursement.
Article Source: Alpha News: “DFL legislators want menstrual products in boys’ bathrooms”
