An act relating to the provision of menstrual products in postsecondary schools located in Vermont

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Cina and 6 co-sponsors

Requires Vermont postsecondary schools to provide no-cost menstrual products in most gender-neutral and female-designated bathrooms and health centers.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Education

Overview

H.715 (2025-2026) from Vermont proposes that postsecondary schools located in Vermont make menstrual products available at no cost in a majority of gender-neutral bathrooms and in bathrooms designated for female students, as well as in the school nurse’s office or health center. The bill directs schools to determine which facilities will be stocked, and it allows partnerships or grants to help fund the provision.

Purpose and intent

Ensure universal, no-cost access to menstrual products for students attending postsecondary institutions in Vermont.

Remove barriers by providing products without requiring students to request them.

Align postsecondary policies with similar student-support efforts in K-12 settings (as reflected by the statute’s broader language about access to menstrual products in schools).

Key provisions

Scope: Applies to all postsecondary schools located in Vermont within the jurisdiction of each school’s board.

Access locations:

A majority of gender-neutral bathrooms and bathrooms designated for female students that are generally used by students aged eight and older.
The school nurse’s office or school-operated health center.

Stocking responsibilities:

The school (district, independent school, or postsecondary institution) must stock menstrual products in the specified bathrooms and health facilities.
The school nurse or other medical professional serving the school must help determine which bathrooms to stock and which brands to use.

Cost and funding:

Schools are responsible for the cost of supplying the products.
Schools may seek grants or partner with nonprofits or community-based organizations to fulfill this obligation.

Effective date: July 1, 2026.

Who is affected

Postsecondary schools located in Vermont (public and approved independent institutions) and their students.

School administrators and nursing/health services staff responsible for facility stocking and product selection.

Potential nonprofit or community partners that could participate via grants or partnerships.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and referral: Introduced by a bipartisan group of representatives and referred to the House Committee on Education.

Schedule: Effective date set for July 1, 2026, providing a lead time for institutions to plan, budget, and implement stocking.

Implementation: Schools must establish stock locations, coordinate with school nurses or medical staff on brand selection and facility determination, and pursue funding as needed.

Potential impact and considerations

Benefits:

Improves student well-being and attendance by removing cost barriers to essential hygiene products.
Supports gender-inclusive facilities by stocking a majority of gender-neutral bathrooms in addition to traditional female-designated spaces.

Considerations:

Budgetary impact on postsecondary institutions; potential need for state funding, grants, or partnerships.
Administrative processes for selecting brands and managing inventory across multiple facilities.
Consistency with existing health and safety policies in each institution.

Overall, H.715 aims to standardize no-cost access to menstrual products in Vermont postsecondary institutions, with a structured approach to where products are stocked, how decisions are made, and how funding may be secured. The measure becomes effective mid-2026, allowing time for institutions to prepare.