West Virginia House Bill HB4900

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/28/26
• Refer: 1/28/26

Caption

To mandate county boards of education to provide feminine hygiene products in all public elementary, middle, and high schools for female students

Summary

HB4900 would add a new section to West Virginia education law requiring county boards of education to provide free feminine hygiene products to female students in all public elementary, middle, and high schools. The bill specifies that the products must be made available at no cost to students and funded using existing appropriations for hygiene products. In practical terms, the measure creates an affirmative duty for local school boards to ensure access to menstrual hygiene supplies in public schools statewide. The bill does not create a new funding source or appropriation; instead, it directs schools to cover the cost from current hygiene-product funding already available to county boards of education.

Impact

The bill would amend Chapter 18, Article 5 of the West Virginia Code by adding §18-5-55, imposing a statewide requirement on county boards of education to provide free feminine hygiene products in public elementary, middle, and high schools. It would affect school administrators and county school systems by requiring them to stock and distribute these products, while leaving the funding mechanism tied to existing appropriations rather than new state spending authority.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears straightforward and policy-focused, aimed at improving student access to basic hygiene products in schools.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is funding: the bill requires schools to provide the products but directs them to do so using existing appropriations, which could raise concerns about whether current budgets are sufficient. Another possible issue is implementation, including how schools would stock, distribute, and maintain access to the products across all grade levels and whether the requirement should apply to all students rather than only female students.