Hamilton County Helps Make State-Wide Impact on Addressing Period Poverty in Schools

HAMILTON COUNTY - Hamilton County Commissioners and the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls celebrated the passage of House Bill 33, which approved a no-cost period product program for Ohio public and chartered nonpublic schools for grades six through 12. The bill provides $5 million in fiscal year 2024 for schools to provide period products and install product dispensers. Previously, schools were not required to accommodate the menstruation needs of their students in any way. The bill allows schools discretion to provide products to younger grades, and on how to dispense the products.

The Alliance for Period Supplies, a collective of independent programs joined together to address period poverty in local communities in the U.S., reports that 1 in 4 students struggle to afford period products. Addressing period poverty in schools results in fewer absences, disruptions and increases time spent in class.

Hamilton County Commissioners and the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls played an important role in getting House Bill 33 passed. It started with local advocacy efforts, after the issue was voiced by the youth who participate in the Commission on Women & Girls. Funding quickly became the largest barrier for local participation, so the efforts moved to state-wide.

The passage of House Bill 33 makes Ohio newest state to pass legislation requiring no-cost period products be provided in schools.