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Bill

HB 1918

Women's Menstrual Health Program; established, information collection, etc.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and 5 co-sponsors

Virginia establishes menstrual health program to collect data on product access and affordability, taking effect July 1, 2025, despite initial gubernatorial veto rejection.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0694)
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Bill Summary · HB 1918

Legislative bill overview

HB 1918 establishes Virginia's Women's Menstrual Health Program, which requires the state to collect information about menstrual health needs and develop initiatives to address them. The bill directs state agencies to gather data on menstrual product access, affordability, and related health issues affecting Virginia women and girls.

Why is this important

Menstrual product access and affordability directly impact educational attendance, workplace participation, and overall health outcomes—particularly for low-income individuals. This program represents a formal state acknowledgment of "period poverty" as a public health concern and creates a framework for evidence-based policy solutions.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and implementation scope: Critics may question state spending on a new program during budget constraints, while supporters argue preventive health investment reduces long-term costs
  • Product provision vs. education: Disagreement over whether the program should directly distribute products (more expensive) or focus on information/access (less costly but potentially less impactful)
  • Data collection privacy: Concerns about collecting sensitive health information versus the need for robust data to justify interventions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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