Requires school districts to provide instruction on menstrual health and hygiene as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

A2183

ASSEMBLY, No. 2183

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Haider

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires school districts to provide instruction on
menstrual health and hygiene as part of implementation of New Jersey Student
Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
concerning health and physical education instruction
and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� As used in this
section:

���� �Menstrual disorders� means a
disorder that adversely affects an individual�s menstrual cycle, including but
not limited to, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, menorrhagia, and polycystic ovary
syndrome.

���� �Menstrual hygiene products�
means products that are used to catch menstrual flow, including pads, cloths,
tampons, or cups, and supportive products needed for menstrual health and
hygiene, including but not limited to, body and laundry soaps, underwear, and
pain relief items.

���� �Period poverty� means the
lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets,
hand-washing facilities, and waste management.

���� b.��� Each board of education
of a school district shall incorporate instruction on menstrual health and
hygiene for students in grades four through 12 as part of the school district�s
implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive
Health and Physical Education.� The instruction shall be age appropriate and
shall include, where appropriate, information regarding:

���� (1)�� the proper use of
menstrual hygiene products and possible complications of use, including Toxic
Shock Syndrome;

���� (2)�� the symptoms and
long-term effects, including fertility, pregnancy and overall health, of
menstrual disorders;

���� (3)�� the short and long-term
effects of period poverty; and

���� (4)�� when to seek medical
advice and how to locate menstruation-related medical resources.

Prior to the beginning of a unit of
instruction on menstrual health and hygiene, information shall be distributed
to parents and guardians of all students detailing the topics of instruction
and the requirements of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for
Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year
following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires that
schools include age appropriate instruction on menstrual health and hygiene for
students in grades four through 12 as part of the school district�s
implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive
Health and Physical Education.

���� Under this bill, instruction
on menstrual health and hygiene would include: the proper use of menstrual
hygiene products; the symptoms and effects of menstrual disorders; the effects
of period poverty; and when and how to seek medical advice.� Parents and
guardians would be notified of the topics of instruction and requirements of
the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical
Education prior to the beginning of a unit of instruction in menstrual health
and hygiene.