Tennessee House Bill HB1103

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25
• Refer: 2/10/25
• Failed: 3/26/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9, relative to feminine hygiene products.

Summary

HB1103, titled the "Tennessee for Tampons Act," would require public institutions of higher education in Tennessee to provide feminine hygiene products in all women’s and girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms. The bill defines feminine hygiene products to include items used with respect to menstruation or other genital-tract secretions, specifically naming tampons and sanitary napkins. The measure also directs public colleges and universities to work with student governments and building maintenance managers to handle administration and restocking of these products. It is framed as a response to student need and access concerns, citing survey data about missed classes and stress caused by lack of period products, as well as examples of other states and universities that have adopted similar programs.

Impact

If enacted, HB1103 would add a new requirement to Tennessee law governing public higher education institutions under Title 49. Public colleges and universities would be obligated to stock menstrual products in specified restrooms and locker rooms, and to coordinate internal procedures for supply and replenishment. The bill would create an operational and funding responsibility for affected institutions, but it does not specify a dedicated funding source or enforcement mechanism in the text provided.

Sentiment

The bill appears generally supportive and policy-driven, with the text emphasizing student access, equity, and practical benefits of reducing missed class time. The cited examples from other states and from Belmont University suggest the proposal is presented as a workable and increasingly common campus policy. No committee discussion or vote record was provided, so there is no recorded opposition or formal legislative sentiment in the materials beyond the bill’s supportive framing.

Contention

The main likely points of contention are the cost and administrative burden on public institutions, including who pays for the products and how restocking will be managed. Another possible issue is the bill’s scope, since it applies only to women’s and girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms at public institutions of higher education and does not address other campus facilities or gender-neutral restrooms. Because no committee transcripts or votes are available, no specific lawmakers or stakeholder groups are identified as raising objections in the provided record.