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HB0039 • 2026

Local Education Agencies

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 49 and Title 67, relative to the Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act.

Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Davis, Akbari
Last action
2025-04-09
Official status
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify the types of products that must be provided.

Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act

This bill requires local education agencies and public charter schools to provide free feminine hygiene products in bathrooms, locker rooms, and with school nurses at senior high schools for student use only.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to offer free feminine hygiene products in women's and girls' bathrooms.
  • Requires LEAs and public charter schools to provide free feminine hygiene products in all locker rooms for students.
  • Requires LEAs and public charter schools to supply free feminine hygiene products with school nurses at senior high schools.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local education agencies (LEAs) in Tennessee
  • Public charter schools in Tennessee
  • Students attending public senior high schools

Terms To Know

Eligible school
A public school, including a public charter school, that is a senior high school.
Feminine hygiene product
Products or materials designed for feminine hygiene in connection with menstruation or other genital-tract secretions, such as tampons and sanitary napkins.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the types of products that must be provided.
  • It is unclear how LEAs will fund this requirement.
  • The bill only applies to senior high schools and does not cover other educational levels.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB0039

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee law to require eligible high schools to provide free menstrual hygiene products to students who need them and sets grant amounts for schools based on student enrollment.

  • Adds a new section in Title 49 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, known as the 'Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act,' which requires eligible public high schools to provide free feminine hygiene products to students who do not have them available.
  • Establishes grant amounts for eligible schools based on student enrollment: $450 for schools with 1,000 or more students, $350 for those with 500-999 students, and $200 for those with up to 499 students.
  • The amendment text does not specify how the grants will be distributed or managed beyond setting the amounts.
  • It is unclear from the provided text what criteria are used to determine if a student qualifies for free products.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0155

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee law to require eligible high schools to provide free menstrual hygiene products to students who need them and sets grant amounts for schools based on student enrollment.

  • Adds a new section in Title 49 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, known as the 'Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act,' which requires eligible public high schools to provide free feminine hygiene products to students who do not have them available.
  • Establishes grant amounts for eligible schools based on student enrollment: $450 for schools with 1,000 or more students, $350 for those with 500-999 students, and $200 for those with up to 499 students.
  • The amendment text does not specify how the grants will be distributed or managed beyond setting the amounts.
  • It is unclear from the provided text what criteria are used to determine if a student qualifies for free products.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025

  2. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  3. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025

  4. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025

  5. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

  6. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  7. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  8. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  9. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 6, Nays 3 PNV 0

  10. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  12. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/11/2025

  14. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/12/2025

  15. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Education Committee to 3/11/2025

  16. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/4/2025

  18. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Education Committee

  19. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 2/25/2025

  20. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  21. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee

  23. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  24. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Education Committee

  25. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  26. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees

  27. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  28. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  29. 2024-12-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 155
By Akbari

HOUSE BILL 39
By Davis

HB0039
000853
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5;
Title 6; Title 7; Title 49 and Title 67, relative to the
Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-417, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting instead the following:
(a) This section is known and may be cited as the "Menstrual Hygiene Products
Accessibility Act."
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Eligible school" means a public school, including a public charter
school, that is a senior high school, as defined in § 49-6-401; and
(2) "Feminine hygiene product":
(A) Means a product or material designed for feminine hygiene in
connection with menstruation or other genital-tract secretions; and
(B) Includes tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, sanitary
napkins, and other similar personal products or materials.
(c) Each LEA and public charter school shall provide feminine hygiene products,
at no charge, in all women's and girls' bathrooms, in all locker rooms, and with the
school nurse in each eligible school building where instruction is provided, excluding
bathrooms and locker rooms that are specifically designated for teacher or staff use.
The feminine hygiene products provided pursuant to this section are for student use
only.

- 2 - 000853

(d) The department of education may develop policies and provide guidance to
LEAs and public charter schools to assist local boards of education and public charter
school governing bodies in complying with the requirements of this section.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.