House committee holds hearing on Menstrual Equity Act
House Bill 498 is known as the ‘Menstrual Equity for All Act’ and was introduced by a bipartisan group of five Democrats and four Republicans.
The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Emma Kerr-Carpenter (D-Billings) would ensure public schools, homeless shelters and correctional facilities are given a supply of menstrual products from the state.
It also prohibits retailers from prohibiting or placing barriers to purchase menstrual products, including asking for proof of age. Those found in violation of the law would have to give a free menstrual product to the aggrieved customer.
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Proponents told stories about the difficulties of obtaining menstrual products in schools, shelters, and jails, and they say this bill would go a long way towards rectifying these situations.
“Research tells us that 1-in-5 students in the U.S. has missed class due to a lack of access to period products,” said Abby Bernard, executive director of Crescent Montana, a non-profit that has been providing menstrual hygiene products to dozens of schools. “When people don’t have the products they need to healthily and confidently manage their period, that often means missing work or school.”
“Having access to these sorts of products are really important to the survivors who have fled an unsafe situation,” said Robin Turner, speaking on behalf of the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “I think you’ve already heard about how challenging it can be if this product isn’t available.”
Around a dozen other states have passed similar legislation.
There were no opponents to the bill, although State Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway (R-Great Falls) expressed concern about the law being exploited.