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Committee hears opposition to repeal of law requiring free menstrual products in school restrooms; advocates cite attendance, health and dignity benefits
Summary
House Bill 415 would repeal the 2019 law that requires school restrooms to offer free menstrual products; the sponsor framed the bill as addressing an unfunded-local-mandate concern while advocates urged committees to keep the law to prevent missed school time and health harms.
Representative Katie Petternehl introduced House Bill 415, which would repeal RSA 189:16-a — the 2019 statute requiring school districts to supply menstrual products in school restrooms. Petternehl said the bill is prompted by an unfunded-mandate concern under Article 28-a of the New Hampshire Constitution: "My issue with this bill is the unfunded mandate portion of it," she said, adding that districts currently bear costs and the state constitution bars unfunded mandates unless local legislative bodies vote to accept them.
Testimony at the hearing was strongly opposed to repeal. Devin Quinn of the New Hampshire Women's Foundation said the law was intended to ensure "freedom to learn…
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