Legislation requires no-cost products in schools and shelters, requires clear disclosure of ingredients
(BOSTON—10/16/2025) Today, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a pair of bills that advance its commitment to health equity by promoting safe and easy access to menstrual products.
One of the bills, S.2640, expands access to necessary products like tampons and pads in public schools, homeless shelters, and jails and prisons. The legislation requires that these disposable products be made available at no cost to people who need them.
The second piece of legislation, S.2641, promotes women’s consumer rights by requiring that manufacturers of menstrual health products clearly disclose and display a list of ingredients. The ingredients would be easily accessible on both retail packages and manufacturer websites.
“Tampons and pads are a basic hygiene necessity. Ensuring their availability—safely and without stigma—is key to advancing equity for women’s health,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Menstruating people have always shouldered the burden of carrying their own tampons and pads into the restroom, leading to a quiet struggle all too real for the girls and women who have difficulty making ends meet. For those who are able to afford their menstrual products, they have often been left wondering what synthetics or additives they might be introducing into their bodies. These bills meaningfully respond to both issues. I’m thankful to Senators Jehlen and Comerford for filing them, and to Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues and Public Health Chair Driscoll for moving them forward to the floor in a timely way.”
“I’m pleased to see these two women’s health equity bills that increase access and mandate labeling for menstrual products passed by the Senate in today’s formal session. This legislation continues the Senate’s strong priority on health equity and commonsense consumer protection for those who need it most,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Clear labeling and no cost access to disposable menstrual products for schools and homeless shelters will raise the health standard for women all across the Commonwealth. I would like to thank my Senate colleagues who were involved and brought this important legislation forward.”
An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products addresses the struggle to afford menstrual products, a key necessity for personal hygiene, for many menstruating adults, students and children with lower incomes or housing instability. The 2025 State of the Period survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, found that 24 per cent of teens in the United States struggle to afford menstrual products. The poll also found a high number of teens missing out on class time as a result while 39 per cent of teens reported an impact on their schoolwork as a result of limited access to menstrual products.
“Equitable access to free disposable menstrual products is a necessity for menstruators everywhere,” said Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (D-Somerville). “This bill has the ability to ensure menstruators in public schools, shelters and prisons no longer
have to experience anxiety, shame or fear around periods. Students in my district were the first to meet with me and speak out about their concerns in school of not knowing if they would have access to menstrual products when they needed them. I am so glad to see this bill passed in the Senate which honors the work and courage of these students who have inspired so many more to break through the stigma and advocate for their peers.”
An Act relative to menstrual product ingredient disclosure responds to growing concerns around potential health effects of chemicals and other additives. A UC Berkeley study in 2024 also highlighted potential exposure to toxic metals. Massachusetts would follow other states that have already enacted similar laws.
“A person who menstruates will use, on average, over 10,000 menstrual products in their lifetime,” said Senator Joanne M. Comerford (D-Northampton). “Yet, menstrual products have increasingly been found to contain harmful substances such as PFAS, heavy metals, and other toxic chemicals. I am grateful to Senate President Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues for their leadership in moving Massachusetts forward in the fight for menstrual equity and consumer protection, including by requiring ingredient disclosures for all menstrual products sold in the Commonwealth.”
“I want to thank Senators Jehlen and Comerford for working with advocates, colleagues and leadership on these important issues. Moving forward, this legislation makes important accessibility and disclosure improvements related to the availability of menstrual products,” said Senator William J. Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health. “We moved the legislation forward confidently out of Committee, and today’s vote on the Senate floor promotes personal care and the general wellbeing for all in the Commonwealth.”
The expanded access bill, S.2640, was advanced by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on October 9, 2025 on a 15-0 vote, following a 5-0 vote in the Joint Committee on Public Health on July 10, 2025. The Senate passed similar legislation in the last two successive terms.
The ingredients disclosure bill, S.2641, was given a 15-0 favorable report by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on October 9, 2025 following a 5-0 vote of the Joint Committee on Public Health on July 10, 2025. All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website.
Both bills were passed by the Senate on bipartisan 39-0 roll call votes and now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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