Lawmaker makes renewed push for free period products in schools

There is a renewed push by legislators to get free menstrual products in schools.

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — There is a renewed push by legislators to get free menstrual products in schools. It is an effort that has come close to passing in recent years, but there is always a hang up on the cost. This year there is hope for change.

State Rep. Aimee Freeman (D-New Orleans) has brought this bill for three years in a row and it often has a lot of support, but it gets stuck in the process right before the finish line on the Senate side.

HB310 looks to put free tampons and pads into easily accessible places for students in schools. It would establish a pot of money from the state general fund to give to schools to buy these products. 

A number of young women came to the capitol to share how important it is for them and their peers to have the products where they can get them without embarrassment.

“It goes beyond just like being at school and not having these products. Some students in fact, students that I know personally do not have access to these products in their home environments and school is one of the only places that they can access these products,” said Tess Keleher, a student from New Orleans.

Last year, the bill ended in the long list of bills on the Senate floor that ran out of time for a debate. There is a lot of talk about saving money and there is legislation working through the legislature that will be a big cost to the state. Lawmakers have to find how to pay for it.

“I'm committed to trying to find an answer, and I would like it to be a funded answer,” Freeman said.

The bill is estimated to cost about $712,000 a year and schools only have to implement it if the state allocates the money.

“Everyone should have access to that because it is health care,” said Sophia Ochillo, a student from New Orleans.

A principal from Caddo Parish explained how they put a similar program in place after they were approached by students who wanted it. He acknowledged how some schools wouldn’t be able to afford to do it without the state money.

The bill passed out of the education committee and has a long way to go before the end. It now goes to House Appropriations, where they will discuss the cost attached to this bill.

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