Plans Would Detail How Campuses Could Provide Free Menstrual Products

TRENTON – To increase access to menstrual products on college campuses in New Jersey, legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Angela V. McKnight that would require each public university to develop a plan to achieve menstrual equity on campus passed the Senate.

“While we frequently debate the rising costs of tuition and housing, we rarely address the hidden financial burdens that sideline students every single month. By removing the price tag from menstrual products, we are clearing a hurdle that directly impacts students' well-being," said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex/Hudson). "The simple task of providing free menstrual products on campus will help students who struggle to make ends meet, improve students’ physical and mental health, and prevent disruptions in the classroom.”

A 2021 study in the medical journal BMC Women’s Health found that 14% of college students struggle to access period products on a regular basis.

“Period poverty places students in a vulnerable position where they must weigh the choice between buying period products or other basic essentials like clothing or food. This barrier disproportionately affects students of color, who already face greater inequities in higher education,” said Senator McKnight (D-Hudson). “This initiative has seen success in other states and public universities nationwide, making it time for New Jersey to adopt a similar approach to improve health, safety, and the overall student experience.”

The bill, S-2243, requires the president of each public university or college to address the current efforts, needs, and access to menstrual products on campus and identify best practices towards achieving menstrual equity. The president may direct the Campus Hunger Task Force established under current law, convene a new task force, or establish a new initiative to develop the plan.

A comprehensive and sustainable plan towards addressing period poverty on campus would need to be completed within six months of the bill’s effective date and reviewed by the governing body of the institution, the Governor, and the Legislature. This plan would include an estimate of the number of students in need of free menstrual products, suitable locations for distribution, the projected cost of the plan, and a timeline for implementation.

The bill requires the president of the institution to implement the plan within 12 months of the bill’s effective date.