Tennessee House Bill HB0039

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/17/24
• Refer: 1/16/25
• Refer: 2/25/25
• Refer: 3/11/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 49 and Title 67, relative to the Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act.

Summary

HB0039 creates the “Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act” and requires each local education agency and public charter school to provide feminine hygiene products at no charge in specified areas of eligible public schools. The bill applies to senior high schools and requires products to be available in women’s and girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and with the school nurse, while excluding staff-only restrooms and locker rooms. The products are limited to student use. The bill also authorizes the Tennessee Department of Education to develop policies and guidance to help school districts and charter school governing bodies comply with the new requirements. It takes effect July 1, 2025. In practical terms, the measure adds a statewide school-based access requirement for menstrual hygiene products and places implementation responsibility on local school systems and charter schools.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-6-417 and affects public school operations, especially at senior high schools, by imposing a new obligation to supply menstrual hygiene products at no charge. It does not create a direct individual entitlement outside the school setting, but it does require LEAs and public charter schools to budget for, stock, and distribute these products in designated school locations. The Department of Education may issue guidance, but the bill itself leaves implementation details to local school authorities.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong support in committee, with unanimous or near-unanimous favorable recommendations in both the House Education Administration Subcommittee and the House Education Committee. No committee transcripts were provided, but the recorded votes suggest the bill was viewed positively and as a practical school-health or student-support measure. The absence of recorded opposition in the available history indicates limited visible resistance at the committee stage.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are likely administrative and fiscal rather than ideological: whether schools should be required to provide products free of charge, how much the mandate will cost local districts, and how implementation should be handled in school facilities. The bill’s scope is also limited to eligible schools defined as senior high schools, which may raise questions about why the requirement does not extend to lower grades. Another possible issue is the exclusion of staff-only bathrooms and locker rooms, reflecting an intent to limit the mandate to student spaces and avoid broader facility obligations.