1 of 2 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1552 FILED ON: 1/15/2025 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2483 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Jay D. Livingstone and Christine P. Barber _________________ To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled: The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jay D. Livingstone8th Suffolk1/15/2025Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex1/15/2025Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/15/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/15/2025Amy Mah Sangiolo11th Middlesex1/16/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/11/2025Jennifer Balinsky Armini8th Essex2/11/2025Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin1/25/2025Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk2/27/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex2/4/2025Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex2/14/2025Paul J. Donato35th Middlesex2/3/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/7/2025Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex2/4/2025Judith A. Garcia11th Suffolk2/12/2025Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex2/4/2025Carlos González10th Hampden2/19/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/11/2025 2 of 2 Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/27/2025Tara T. Hong18th Middlesex2/21/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex3/4/2025Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex2/13/2025Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex3/10/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester2/27/2025David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester2/19/2025Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/12/2025William F. MacGregor10th Suffolk2/12/2025Joan Meschino3rd Plymouth1/27/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/3/2025Tram T. Nguyen18th Essex2/7/2025Steven Owens29th Middlesex2/4/2025Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk3/4/2025Adrianne Pusateri Ramos14th Essex3/6/2025Estela A. Reyes4th Essex2/3/2025Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/26/2025Mark D. Sylvia10th Bristol2/18/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/26/2025Chynah Tyler7th Suffolk2/13/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex1/29/2025David T. Vieira3rd Barnstable2/6/2025Bud L. Williams11th Hampden3/5/2025 1 of 3 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1552 FILED ON: 1/15/2025 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2483 By Representatives Livingstone of Boston and Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2483) of Jay D. Livingstone, Christine P. Barber and others for legislation to increase access to disposable menstrual products. Public Health. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court (2025-2026) _______________ An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 23B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the 2following section:- 3 Section 31. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following 4meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: 5 “Disposable menstrual products”, products used by a menstruating individual including, 6but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners. 7 “Menstruating individual”, a person who menstruates. 8 (b) Any provider of temporary housing assistance, including, but not be limited to, a 9family shelter, a shelter for adults, a hotel used for emergency shelter, an emergency apartment, a 10domestic violence shelter, a runaway and homeless youth shelter or a safe house for refugees, 11shall provide disposable menstrual products at no cost to a menstruating individual. The 2 of 3 12disposable menstrual products shall be available in a convenient manner that does not stigmatize 13the individual seeking such products. 14 SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after 15section 3 the following section:- 16 Section 3A. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following 17meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:- 18 “Disposable menstrual products”, products used by a menstruating individual including, 19but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners. 20 “Menstruating individual”, a person who menstruates. 21 (b) Every primary and secondary school shall provide disposable menstrual products at 22no cost to students. The disposable menstrual products shall be available in a convenient manner 23that does not stigmatize the individual seeking such products, including, but not limited to, in 24restrooms for menstruating individuals. 25 SECTION 3. Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the 26following section:- 27 Section 170. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following 28meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: 29 “Administrator”, the keeper of a lock-up facility under chapter 40, the superintendent of a 30correctional facility under chapter 125, a sheriff or special sheriff in charge of a jail, house of 31correction or regional lock-up facility under chapter 126, the colonel of state police and any other 3 of 3 32official who oversees a facility used for the detention of persons arrested and held in custody or 33serving a sentence. 34 “Disposable menstrual products”, products used by a menstruating individual including, 35but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners. 36 “Menstruating individual”, a person who menstruates. 37 (b) The administrator shall provide disposable menstrual products to menstruating 38individuals held or housed in the facility overseen by the administrator at no cost. The disposable 39menstrual products shall be available in a convenient manner that does not stigmatize the 40individual seeking such products.