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Ohio committee hears testimony backing House Bill 29 to guarantee menstrual products, showers and disposal in jails and prisons
Summary
A lengthy second hearing on House Bill 29 featured dozens of proponent witnesses — including formerly incarcerated women, advocates and nonprofits — who described routine denial of pads and tampons, limited showers and unsanitary disposal practices. Supporters urged codifying access statewide and asked ODRC to explain compliance gaps in its 2022 policy.
Chair Susan Manchester convened the Ohio Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee for a second hearing on House Bill 29, which would require correctional facilities to provide free, adequate menstrual products in multiple sizes, daily access to showers and appropriate receptacles for disposal.
The bill drew sustained, emotional proponent testimony from people with lived experience and non‑profit advocates. Erin Knowl, who said she served a 12‑year sentence, told the committee she sometimes begged other inmates for supplies and that product shortages forced women to improvise unsafe alternatives. "No matter what the punishment, no woman should ever have to bleed all over herself or feel ashamed for doing something the body does naturally," she said.
Researchers and advocates described systemic patterns.…
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