AUGUSTA - The Maine House enacted legislation on Friday sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, that would require public schools serving sixth through 12th grades to make menstrual products available to students in school bathrooms.
"Many Mainers have been feeling the financial impacts of the rising cost of menstrual products and other necessities," said Cloutier. "This disproportionately impacts Mainers in lower-income households who often have to ration the number of pads or tampons they have on hand. For young teens who are menstruating, this can be incredibly stigmatizing, shameful and embarrassing."
LD 348 would require that menstrual products be available in bathrooms and provide ongoing state funding to create Maine's Menstrual Products Reimbursement Program, which would reimburse public schools at 90% of the cost of making menstrual products available to students.
The bill faces further votes in the Senate in the coming days.
Cloutier is the assistant House majority leader and is currently serving her third term in the Maine House of Representatives. She represents House District 94, which includes part of her hometown of Lewiston.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Cloutier], 305-965-2744