Health, Dept. of

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not specify how the pilot program will be funded beyond the initial year or if it might expand to more schools after its first year.

Tennessee Feminine Hygiene Product Program Act

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Health to establish a pilot program placing vending machines in women's restrooms or locker rooms at selected public schools, providing free feminine hygiene products for students.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the department of health to set up and run a pilot program with vending machines in women's restrooms or locker rooms at eligible public schools.
• The vending machines must provide free feminine hygiene products to students.
• Selects one eligible school from each grand division (region) of Tennessee for the program, starting in 2026-2027.
• Prioritizes schools with high percentages of economically disadvantaged students when choosing which schools get the vending machines.
• Encourages collaboration between the department and faith-based or community organizations to support the program.

Who It Names or Affects

• Public school students in grades 5-12 who attend eligible schools.
• School principals at selected schools, as they decide where to place the vending machines.
• The Tennessee Department of Health, which runs and funds the pilot program.

Terms To Know

Eligible school

A public school in grades 5-12 that has received Title I funding and is operated by a local education agency or state with public funds, or through a charter agreement.

Economically disadvantaged students

Students who are homeless, foster children, runaways, migrants, or qualify for free or reduced-price school meals under federal guidelines.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the program will be funded beyond the initial year.
• It is unclear if and when the pilot program might expand to more schools after its first year.

Official Summary Text

For the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter, this bill requires the department of health to establish and administer a pilot program for the placement of hygiene vending machines in women's restrooms or locker rooms in each eligible sch
ool selected to participate in the program that dispenses feminine hygiene products to students at no cost to the student. The department must select no less than two eligible schools from each grand division of this state to receive a hygiene vending ma
ch
ine that dispenses feminine hygiene products to students at no cost to the student. As used in this bill, an "eligible school" means a public school in this state in which any combination of grades 5-12 are taught; that has received Title I schoolwide de
signation; and that is operated by an LEA, by this state with public funds, or pursuant to a charter agreement.

In selecting eligible schools to participate in the program, this bill requires the department to prioritize and select eligible schools with the highest percentage of students who are economically disadvantaged, which means homeless, foster, runaway, or
migrant students or students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals or milk through the direct certification eligibility guidelines established pursuant to federal law. The principal of each school selected to participate in the pilot program m
us
t determine the appropriate location or placement in the principal's school for a hygiene vending machine.

This bill requires the department to supply each eligible school selected to participate in the program with a hygiene vending machine that dispenses feminine hygiene products to students at no cost to the student, as well as the feminine hygiene product
s required to supply each hygiene vending machine placed in the eligible school for purposes of the program. The department may work with state or local health departments, nonprofit organizations, churches, and other organizations or entities to source
hy
giene vending machines, as well as the feminine hygiene products required to supply hygiene vending machines, placed in eligible schools for purposes of the program, and may collect donations of funds or items to assist the department in complying with th
e requirements of this bill.

This bill encourages the department to work with the governor's office of faith-based and community initiatives to maximize the resources and funding opportunities that may be available to support or expand the program. Additionally, each eligible schoo
l selected to participate in the program is encouraged to examine the LEA's coordinated school health plan in an effort to maximize the resources, education, and guidance available to support the needs of students who are enrolled in an eligible school th
at
is participating in the program.

ON FEBRUARY 9, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 587, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 changes the number the department must select from each grand division to receive a hygiene vending machine from no less than two eligible schools to one eligible school, and
changes the effective
school year from 2025-2026 to 2026-2027.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 587
By Akbari

HOUSE BILL 1219
By Camper
HB1219
002095
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49
and Title 68, relative to feminine hygiene products.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 4, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Eligible school" means a public school in this state in which any
combination of grades five through twelve (5-12) are taught; that has received
Title I schoolwide designation; and that is operated by an LEA, by this state with
public funds, or pursuant to a charter agreement, as defined in § 49-13-104; and
(2) "Feminine hygiene product" means any product designed to be used
by women with respect to menstruation, including tampons and sanitary napkins.
(b)
(1) The department of health shall establish and administer a pilot
program for the placement of hygiene vending machines in women's restrooms
or locker rooms in each eligible school selected to participate in the program that
dispenses feminine hygiene products to students at no cost to the student.
(2) The department shall select no less than two (2) eligible schools from
each grand division of this state to receive a hygiene vending machine that
dispenses feminine hygiene products to students at no cost to the student. In
selecting eligible schools to participate in the program, the department shall
prioritize and select eligible schools with the highest percentage of students who
are economically disadvantaged, as defined in § 49-3-104. The principal of each

- 2 - 002095

school selected to participate in the pilot program shall determine the appropriate
location or placement in the principal's school for a hygiene vending machine.
(c)
(1) The department shall supply each eligible school selected to
participate in the program with a hygiene vending machine that dispenses
feminine hygiene products to students at no cost to the student, as well as the
feminine hygiene products required to supply each hygiene vending machine
placed in the eligible school for purposes of the program.
(2) The department may work with state or local health departments,
nonprofit organizations, churches, and other organizations or entities to source
hygiene vending machines, as well as the feminine hygiene products required to
supply hygiene vending machines, placed in eligible schools for purposes of the
program, and may collect donations of funds or items to assist the department in
complying with the requirements of this section.
(d) The department is encouraged to work with the governor's office of faith-
based and community initiatives to maximize the resources and funding opportunities
that may be available to support or expand the program.
(e) Each eligible school selected to participate in the program is encouraged to
examine the LEA's coordinated school health plan in an effort to maximize the
resources, education, and guidance available to support the needs of students who are
enrolled in an eligible school that is participating in the program.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it,
and applies to the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter.