Urges United States President to expand access to menstrual products in schools.

SCR111

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 111

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Urges United States President to expand access to
menstrual products in schools.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A
Concurrent Resolution
respectfully urging
the President of the United States to expand access to menstrual products in
schools.

Whereas,

Federal law, specifically Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title
IX), prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and provides equal access to
education in federally funded schools and programs; and

Whereas,

Though Title IX does not explicitly reference menstruation, the intent of Title
IX is to reduce disparities in educational equity and opportunity on the basis
of sex; and

Whereas,

Title IX should be expanded through interpretation, regulation, and guidance to
provide more comprehensive and robust protections for individuals who
menstruate; and

Whereas,

Expansions of Title IX should ensure a student has access to adequate toilet
facilities, lenient bathroom policies, and menstrual products in every
restroom; and

Whereas,

Title IX is linked to menstruation because of the enormous impact that access
to free and quality menstrual products, and a lack thereof, has on
participation and attendance in educational programs; and

Whereas,

A lack of access to free menstrual products directly affects a student�s
ability to participate in school activities, a student�s ability to attend
school, and a student�s overall educational outcomes; and

Whereas,

More than half of all high school aged students who menstruate are late to
school, have to leave school early, or miss the school day altogether due to a
lack of necessary menstrual products; and

Whereas,

A low-income student may be forced to resort to alternatives to menstrual
products such as toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, socks, or rags, which can
have serious negative health implications for the student; and

Whereas,

Without access to menstrual products, many low-income individuals who are
menstruating extend the length of time they use a single tampon or sanitary
napkin, thereby risking infection and, potentially, toxic shock syndrome; and

Whereas,

Expanding the reach of Title IX to provide free menstrual products in all
restrooms may reduce educational disparities on the basis of sex and reduce
menstrual-based harassment in schools; and

Whereas,

Given that providing access to free menstrual products under Title IX is
fundamental to equality, it is altogether fitting and proper for the
Legislature of the State of New Jersey to urge the President of the United
States to expand access to menstrual products in schools throughout the nation;
now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate of the State of New
Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

���� 1.� The Legislature of the
State of New Jersey respectfully urges the President of the United States to
expand access to menstrual products in schools throughout the nation.

���� 2.� Copies of this resolution,
as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the
General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United
States, Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker
and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every
member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution respectfully
urges the President of the United States to expand access to menstrual products
in schools throughout the nation.

���� Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and
provides equal access to education in federally funded schools and programs.
Though Title IX does not explicitly reference menstruation, the intent of Title
IX is to reduce disparities in educational equity and opportunity on the basis
of sex. Title IX can be expanded through interpretation, regulation, and
guidance to provide more protections for individuals who menstruate.

���� Period poverty, or the lack of
access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and
education, affects many school-aged students. More than half of all high school
aged students who menstruate are late to school, have to leave school early, or
miss school due to a lack of menstrual products. A low-income student may be
forced to resort to alternatives to menstrual products such as toilet paper or
forced to extend the length of time the student uses a single menstrual
product, which may have negative health consequences including infection and
toxic shock syndrome.

���� Expanding Title IX to include
free menstrual products in all restrooms may reduce educational disparities on
the basis of sex and reduce menstrual-based harassment in schools. . Given that
providing access to free menstrual products under Title IX is fundamental to
equality, it is altogether fitting and proper for the Legislature of the State
of New Jersey to urge the President to expand access to menstrual products in
schools throughout the nation as an imperative under Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972.