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SB0588 • 2026

Education, Higher

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9, relative to feminine hygiene products.

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Akbari, Salinas
Last action
2025-03-19
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide information on funding or private institutions' requirements, leaving those points uncertain.

Tennessee for Tampons Act

This bill requires Tennessee's public colleges and universities to provide free feminine hygiene products in women's bathrooms and locker rooms.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires public institutions of higher education to supply feminine hygiene products like tampons and sanitary napkins in all women’s restrooms and locker rooms.
  • Collaborates with student governments and building maintenance staff to manage and refill these supplies regularly.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public institutions of higher education in Tennessee
  • Women students, faculty, and staff at these institutions

Terms To Know

feminine hygiene product
Any item used by women during menstruation or other genital-tract secretions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the products will be funded.
  • It is unclear if private institutions of higher education are required to follow this act.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed for lack of second in: Higher Education Subcommittee

  2. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee

  3. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  4. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee to 3/26/2025

  5. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

  6. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  7. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  8. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee to 3/19/2025

  9. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/12/2025

  10. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee

  11. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee

  12. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  13. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  14. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  15. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  16. 2025-01-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill enacts the
"Tennessee for Tampons Act
,
"
which requires public
institutions of higher education
to

(i)
provide feminine hygiene products in all women's and girl's bathrooms and locker rooms
, and (ii)
collaborate with the institution's student gov
ernments and building maintenance managers for the administration and restocking of feminine hygiene products in all women's and girl's bathrooms and locker rooms at the institution.
As used in this bill, a
"feminine hygiene product"
m
eans any product to
be used by women with respect to menstruation or other genital-tract secretions
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1103
By Salinas

SENATE BILL 588
By Akbari

SB0588
002298
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49,
Chapter 9, relative to feminine hygiene products.

WHEREAS, a survey by Thinx and PERIOD reported that two-thirds of teen students felt
stressed due to the lack of period products in their schools. Further, eighty-six percent missed a
class or knew someone who missed a class due to a lack of period products; and
WHEREAS, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, New
Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, and Oregon are all states that fund and require period products in
schools; and
WHEREAS, universities such as Belmont University have created successful period
product programs, providing free and accessible period products for the student body; now,
therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee for Tampons Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section, "feminine hygiene product":
(1) Means any product to be used by women with respect to
menstruation or other genital-tract secretions; and
(2) Includes tampons and sanitary napkins.
(b) Public institutions of higher education shall provide feminine hygiene
products in all women's and girl's bathrooms and locker rooms.

- 2 - 002298

(c) Public institutions of higher education shall collaborate with the institution's
student governments and building maintenance managers for the administration and
restocking of feminine hygiene products in all women's and girl's bathrooms and locker
rooms at the institution.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.