Maine Judiciary Committee advances bill to provide free feminine hygiene products in schools

Maine may pass legislation that would make feminine hygiene products free in schools after the bill received key support Wednesday, The Associated Press reports.

The state’s judiciary committee unanimously advanced the bill, sending it to the full Maine Legislature for further voting. 

Democratic Sen. Cathy Breen of Falmouth said the legislation would help fight “period poverty,” saying that 1 in 5 teenagers struggles to pay for feminine hygiene products, according to the AP.

Among the stipulations included in the proposal are that those who donate the feminine products are free from liability, Breen noted.

“As a parent and former educator, I strongly support providing these essential items to students free of charge,” the state senator said, according to WGME 13.

She continued, “As Senate Chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, I am delighted that we can do so without costing the state or our schools money.”

Breen did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment. 

Maine is one of the states that has a sales tax on feminine hygiene products, commonly referred to as the “tampon tax” or “pink tax.”