As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session H. B. No. 29
2025-2026
Representatives Humphrey, John
Cosponsors: Representatives Deeter, White, A., McNally, Denson, Rader, Brent,
Upchurch, Ray, Brennan, Sigrist, Piccolantonio, Grim, Synenberg, Robinson, Lett,
Lawson-Rowe, White, E., Somani, Sims, Brewer, Tims, Hall, D., Jarrells, Baker,
Miller, J., Williams, Mohamed, Gross, Russo
A B I LL
To enact sections 341.261, 753.321, and 5120.631 of
the Revised Code regarding inmates' access to
feminine hygiene products and showers by
municipal and county correctional facilities and
state correctional institutions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 341.261, 753.321, and 5120.631 of
the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 341.261. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "County correctional facility" means a county jail,
county workhouse, minimum security jail, joint city and county
workhouse, municipal-county correctional center, multicounty-
municipal correctional center, municipal-county jail or
workhouse, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse.
(2) "Emergency" includes any of the following:
(a) Riots or inmate uprisings;
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As Introduced
(b) Escapes or attempted escapes;
(c) Staff shortages or strikes;
(d) Outbreaks of contagious diseases;
(e) Incidents of suicide or self-harm;
(f) Gang-related violence or conflicts within the inmate
population;
(g) Natural disasters;
(h) Hostage situations.
(3) "Female" means of or denoting the sex that can bear
offspring or produce eggs and has XX chromosomes, distinguished
biologically by the production of gametes or ova that can be
fertilized by male gametes.
(4) "Feminine hygiene products" means tampons and sanitary
napkins that are used for the menstrual cycle.
(B) Each county correctional facility housing female
inmates shall provide inmates experiencing a menstrual cycle
with an adequate supply based on individualized need, in
perpetuity and without reprimand, of feminine hygiene products
in a variety of sizes at no cost to the inmates.
(C) Each county correctional facility housing female
inmates shall have a written policy and procedure in place that
does all of the following:
(1) Protects inmates from the denial of feminine hygiene
products based on race, sex, income status, degree of charge,
disability status, or any other type of discriminatory identity;
(2) Establishes proper methods of storing, administering,
and disposing of feminine hygiene products;
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(3) Establishes sanitary and safe procedures for hand
washing and cleaning of surfaces between restrooms and the
designated area for disposal bins.
(D) Each county correctional facility housing female
inmates shall provide a separate disposal container with a lid
in a safe, designated area for use by inmates experiencing a
menstrual cycle within the facility to dispose of used, soiled,
or damaged feminine hygiene products.
(E) Except when the county correctional facility is
experiencing an emergency, no county correctional facility
housing female inmates shall deny inmates access to feminine
hygiene products.
(F) Except when the county correctional facility is
experiencing an emergency, each county correctional facility
housing female inmates shall provide inmates experiencing
menstruation a minimum of one shower per day with access to hot
water for washing, regardless of whether the inmates are
separated from the general population for disciplinary status.
Sec. 753.321. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Emergency" has the same meaning as in section 341.261
of the Revised Code.
(2) "Female" means of or denoting the sex that can bear
offspring or produce eggs and has XX chromosomes, distinguished
biologically by the production of gametes or ova that can be
fertilized by male gametes.
(3) "Feminine hygiene products" means tampons and sanitary
napkins that are used for the menstrual cycle.
(4) "Municipal correctional facility" means a municipal
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jail, municipal workhouse, minimum security jail, joint city and
county workhouse, municipal-county correctional center,
multicounty-municipal correctional center, municipal-county jail
or workhouse, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse.
(B) Each municipal correctional facility housing female
inmates shall provide inmates experiencing a menstrual cycle
with an adequate supply based on individualized need, in
perpetuity and without reprimand, of feminine hygiene products
in a variety of sizes at no cost to the inmates.
(C) Each municipal correctional facility housing female
inmates shall have a written policy and procedure in place that
does all of the following:
(1) Protects inmates from the denial of feminine hygiene
products based on race, sex, income status, degree of charge,
disability status, or any other type of discriminatory identity;
(2) Establishes proper methods of storing, administering,
and disposing of feminine hygiene products;
(3) Establishes sanitary and safe procedures for hand
washing and cleaning of surfaces between restrooms and the
designated area for disposal bins.
(D) Each municipal correctional facility housing female
inmates shall provide a separate disposal container with a lid
in a safe, designated area for use by inmates experiencing a
menstrual cycle within the facility to dispose of used, soiled,
or damaged feminine hygiene products.
(E) Except when the municipal correctional facility is
experiencing an emergency, no municipal correctional facility
housing female inmates shall deny inmates access to feminine
hygiene products.
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(F) Except when the municipal correctional facility is
experiencing an emergency, each municipal correctional facility
housing female inmates shall provide inmates experiencing
menstruation a minimum of one shower per day with access to hot
water for washing, regardless of whether the inmates are
separated from the general population for disciplinary status.
Sec. 5120.631. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Emergency" has the same meaning as in section 341.261
of the Revised Code.
(2) "Female" means of or denoting the sex that can bear
offspring or produce eggs and has XX chromosomes, distinguished
biologically by the production of gametes or ova that can be
fertilized by male gametes.
(3) "Feminine hygiene products" means tampons and sanitary
napkins that are used for the menstrual cycle.
(4) "State correctional institution" has the same meaning
as in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) Each state correctional institution housing female
inmates shall provide inmates experiencing a menstrual cycle
with an adequate supply based on individualized need, in
perpetuity and without reprimand, of feminine hygiene products
in a variety of sizes at no cost to the inmates.
(C) Each state correctional institution housing female
inmates shall have a written policy and procedure in place that
does all of the following:
(1) Protects inmates from the denial of feminine hygiene
products based on race, sex, income status, degree of charge,
disability status, or any other type of discriminatory identity;
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(2) Establishes proper methods of storing, administering,
and disposing of feminine hygiene products;
(3) Establishes sanitary and safe procedures for hand
washing and cleaning of surfaces between restrooms and the
designated area for disposal bins.
(D) Each state correctional institution housing female
inmates shall provide a separate disposal container with a lid
in a safe, designated area for use by inmates experiencing a
menstrual cycle within the institution to dispose of used,
soiled, or damaged feminine hygiene products.
(E) Except when the state correctional institution is
experiencing an emergency, no state correctional institution
housing female inmates shall deny inmates access to feminine
hygiene products.
(F) Except when the state correctional institution is
experiencing an emergency, each state correctional institution
housing female inmates shall provide inmates experiencing
menstruation a minimum of one shower per day with access to hot
water for washing, regardless of whether the inmates are
separated from the general population for disciplinary status.
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