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Howard County students urge council to fund 3-month menstrual-products pilot in public facilities
Summary
Students from Mount Hebron and other county high schools asked the Howard County Council during the FY26 operating budget public hearing to add a pilot that would place free menstrual products in libraries, community centers and athletic facilities; they presented a three-month cost estimate and noted local fundraising and external grant awards.
Students from Mount Hebron High School and other county high schools urged the Howard County Council on the final FY26 operating budget public hearing to add a pilot program providing free menstrual products at county libraries, community centers and athletic complexes.
At the public hearing, Isha Ande, a junior at Mount Hebron High School, told council members the clubs from multiple high schools have proposed a three-month pilot. "When the cost for this program was calculated, our club found that this initiative would cost $4,964.84 for a 3 month pilot program and a 1 time fiscal year cost of $8,309.36 due to a 1 time purchase of menstrual dispensers," Ande said. She added an ongoing three-month cost after the capital purchase would be $4,459.06.
The students said they had raised some funds and received grant awards to help cover start-up costs. Ahana Roy, a sophomore at Mount Hebron, said the Maryland Youth Advisory Council awarded the group a $1,000 grant and that the club won $1,500 in a "Big Ideas" competition. "We have been putting in a consistent effort over the past few months," Roy said.
Why it matters: speakers framed the proposal as a low-cost way to protect health, school attendance and dignity. Ande said some women have resorted to toilet paper or lacked access in shelters, and that access to products can be the difference between attending work or school and staying home.
Public testimony and cost details: Testifiers asked the council to consider the pilot during the operating budget review. Ande and Roy said the three-month pilot and dispenser purchase together represent a small share of the county's overall budget; the students calculated the fiscal-year cost as a fraction of the county’s $1.219 billion operating budget as presented by the county executive.
What was not decided: The council took public testimony at the hearing; no council vote or formal action on the menstrual-product pilot was recorded in the transcript. The students asked the council to consider adding the program into the FY26 operating budget or otherwise provide support.
Next steps noted by speakers: Testifiers urged council members to consider the pilot as part of deliberations on the executive’s proposed FY26 operating budget and to weigh the student cost estimates and fundraising when evaluating the request.
