Menstrual Equity For All Act

Summary#

This bill, the Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2025, would increase access to free menstrual products across many settings. It would require K–12 schools receiving federal funds to provide free menstrual products. It creates a competitive grant program for institutions of higher education (at least 4 schools, with at least half the grants to community colleges) and authorizes $5,000,000 to support campus programs and best-practice reports. States that receive certain Byrne JAG grants must certify that incarcerated people and detainees have free access to menstrual products; failure to certify can cut that State’s Byrne JAG funding by 20 percent. The Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Homeland Security would be required to ensure free distribution to federal prisoners and detained noncitizens. The Emergency Food and Shelter Grant Program would be allowed to use funds to provide menstrual products to people experiencing homelessness. Medicaid would be amended to cover menstrual products as a medical assistance item starting the first calendar quarter one year after enactment. Employers with 100 or more employees would be required (by OSHA rule) to provide free menstrual products. Federal public buildings would be required to stock free menstrual products in public restrooms. The Social Services Block Grant program would receive additional funding and rules to reduce unmet need for menstrual products, including $200,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026–2029 and related program rules and an evaluation. TANF would get a competitive grant authority of $10,000,000 per year to help covered families buy menstrual products. The bill would also make it unlawful for a State or local government to tax the retail sale of menstrual products, effective 120 days after enactment. The bill defines "menstrual product" in multiple places to include pads, tampons, liners, menstrual cups or discs, and menstrual underwear.

What it means for you#

• Students in K–12 schools could get free menstrual products at school restrooms.
• College and community college students could benefit from campus distribution programs funded by competitive grants.
• People who are incarcerated or detained in facilities covered by the bill would be entitled to free menstrual products.
• People experiencing homelessness could receive menstrual products through Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds.
• Medicaid enrollees could have menstrual products covered as medical assistance after the bill’s effective date for that change.
• Employees at firms with 100+ workers could receive free menstrual products at work once OSHA issues implementing rules.
• Visitors to federal public buildings would find free menstrual products in public restrooms.
• Low-income families served through TANF and communities served by Social Services Block Grants could receive additional resources for menstrual products.
• Purchasers would not pay state or local sales tax on menstrual products after the tax ban takes effect.

Expenses#

• Higher education grant program: authorizes $5,000,000 (to the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education) for the program.
• Social Services Block Grant supplemental funding: appropriates $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out specified menstrual product activities.
  • Up to 2 percent of each year’s $200,000,000 may be reserved for technical assistance and training; up to $2,000,000 in FY2026 may be used for an evaluation.
  • Authorization: not more than $6,000,000 is authorized for administration of this section for FY2026–FY2029.
• TANF grants: appropriates $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year for grants to help covered families purchase menstrual products.
• Many other provisions do not specify new federal funding amounts in the bill text (for example, requirements for federal buildings, OSHA rulemaking for employers, Medicaid coverage changes, and prison/detention requirements). No publicly available information on additional federal or state administrative costs beyond the amounts listed in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s findings and purpose sections state that menstrual products are a recurring necessity and that lack of access (referred to as "period poverty") can harm health, well-being, and educational and economic opportunity. The sponsors say expanding free access in schools, colleges, prisons, shelters, workplaces, federal buildings, and through federal benefits programs will reduce barriers to education and work and address disproportionate impacts on certain groups.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.