Public Health - Public Buildings - Hygiene Products
Summary
HB941 would require every public restroom in every public building in Maryland to maintain an adequate supply of basic hygiene items. The bill defines “public building” broadly to include buildings, structures, and improved areas owned, leased, or operated by the State or a political subdivision, and it expressly includes certain public transit facilities and public parks or recreation centers. It excludes facilities primarily used for primary or secondary education.
The required supplies include hand soap, toilet paper, towels or other hand-drying devices, water, waste containers, and menstrual hygiene products such as tampons, sanitary napkins, and sanitary pads. The bill would take effect October 1, 2026, and would add a new subtitle to the State Finance and Procurement Article governing hygiene products in public buildings.
Impact
HB941 would create a new statewide requirement for state and local government-owned, leased, or operated public buildings to stock specified restroom supplies, including menstrual hygiene products. It would add Sections 2-1001 and 2-1002 to the State Finance and Procurement Article, thereby imposing operational standards on public facilities and potentially affecting procurement, maintenance, and facilities management practices for state agencies and political subdivisions. The bill would not apply to buildings primarily used for K-12 education.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill’s subject matter and sponsors, the measure appears aimed at improving public restroom hygiene and access to menstrual products in government facilities, suggesting a public-health and equity-oriented intent. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments in the provided materials leaves the overall sentiment indeterminate from the record.
Contention
The main policy issue likely concerns the scope and cost of compliance for state and local governments, including the obligation to provide menstrual hygiene products in all covered public restrooms. Another possible point of contention is the breadth of the definition of “public building,” which extends beyond traditional buildings to transit facilities and public parks or recreation centers, while excluding schools. Because no transcripts are available, it is not possible to identify specific legislators, agencies, or stakeholder groups that raised these concerns.