ISSA’s May Period Project Update—Get Ready For Period Poverty Week!

Welcome to ISSA’s May Period Project Update. This communication from ISSA, the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry, will keep you up to date on the association’s efforts to end period poverty through advocacy and education. We encourage you sign up for this monthly update.

Features

Hygieia Network Webinar: Advocating for an End to Period Poverty

Join ISSA–the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association—and the ISSA Hygieia Network on May 25 during Period Poverty Awareness Week to learn about what period poverty is, how the industry is impacted, and how you can help advance the issue. This webinar will feature John Nothdurft, Director of Government Affairs at ISSA, and Jennifer Gaines, Program Director at Alliance for Period Supplies. The webinar is sponsored by Aunt Flow and Hospeco Brands Group. Register for free today!

The National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) is pleased to announce the winners of its “Ending Period Poverty with NFWL Contest” sponsored by Kimberly-Clark and its U by Kotex brand. Each winner will receive a US$1,000 donation of period products to the community initiative of their choice, and the opportunity to be featured on NFWL’s social media channels throughout the month of May leading up to Period Poverty Awareness Week, May 22–28, 2023.

Reminder: May 22–28 is Period Poverty Awareness Week

We anticipate the federal Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2023 will be reintroduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) this week.

Legislative Updates

Canada has made changes to the labor code requiring all federally regulated workplaces to provide free menstrual products to their employees, beginning December 15, 2023.

Arizona is finalizing its budget, which includes a $2 million appropriation for the education department to pay for feminine hygiene products in schools.

California has a Senate Appropriations hearing (SB 59) on May 18. This bill would further expand the requirement for state-owned and leased buildings, local government buildings, and hospitals receiving state funding. The bill has already passed through the other relevant committees.

In Florida, HB 389 passed the House and Senate. The law pending the Governor’s signature would authorize, but would not require school districts to make period products available at no cost. There was an amendment restricting advertisements other than the manufacturer on the dispenser.

The Louisiana house Committee on Appropriations unanimously voted to report LA HB 117 favorably out of committee. The bill would require each public-school governing authority to make menstrual products available in easily accessible locations at no cost.

Maine held a hearing in the House Education and Cultural Affairs Committee on May 9 on LD 348, an act to make menstrual products available in certain schools. No vote was taken.

In Minnesota, language to require public and charter schools to provide students access to free menstrual products in student restrooms for grades 4-12 was added to H2497, the education omnibus funding bill. It is currently in conference committee, but the language has been agreed upon. Pending Governor Tim Walz’s signature, Minnesota will become the 16th  state to require menstrual products in schools.

The New Jersey Assembly Women and Children Committee unanimously moved A1349, which would require and fund menstrual products in grade 6-12 school restrooms. There have been many iterations of this legislation dating back to 2019. The legislation has already passed the Senate. This bill has been referred to the education committee and we expect it will pass the full Assembly and be signed by the Governor this session.

There are also quite a few states, like South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin, considering repeals of their sales tax on menstrual products.

News

Period Poverty: Barriers to Safe and Equitable Menstrual Hygiene

Building Services Management Magazine – Equal Treatment in Bathrooms

Facility Executive: Period Products Instead Of Ping-Pong?

Feminine Hygiene Products Market to Surpass USD 37.26 Billion by 2030

Federal rules don’t require period product ingredients on packaging labels. States are stepping in.

Please contact us with any ISSA government affairs questions and/or comments that you may have. And thank you for supporting our advocacy efforts. You can find out more about ISSA’s End Period Poverty campaign and contribute here.