Legislation requires no-cost products in schools and shelters, requires clear disclosure of ingredients
(BOSTON—10/16/2025) Today, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a pair of bills that advance its commitment to health equity by promoting safe and easy access to menstrual products. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted in favor of both pieces of legislation.
One of the bills, S.2640, expands access to necessary products like tampons and pads in public schools, homeless shelters, and jails and prisons. The legislation requires that these disposable products be made available at no cost to people who need them.
The second piece of legislation, S.2641, promotes women’s consumer rights by requiring that manufacturers of menstrual health products clearly disclose and display a list of ingredients. The ingredients would be easily accessible on both retail packages and manufacturer websites.
“The Senate continues to lead on the issue of women’s health equity and expanding access to basic hygiene products for the over 50 percent of Massachusetts residents who menstruate,” said Senator Friedman, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “It is vital that we address the challenges that costs and other barriers present for individuals trying to obtain menstrual products, and this legislation is an impactful step forward in that effort. As this is now the third consecutive session that the Senate has passed legislation expanding access to and equity for menstrual products, I’m hopeful the House will take swift action this session to help move this forward to the Governor’s desk.”
An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products addresses the struggle to afford menstrual products, a key necessity for personal hygiene, for many menstruating adults, students and children with lower incomes or housing instability. The 2025 State of the Period survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, found that 24 per cent of teens in the United States struggle to afford menstrual products. The poll also found a high number of teens missing out on class time as a result while 39 per cent of teens reported an impact on their schoolwork as a result of limited access to menstrual products.
An Act relative to menstrual product ingredient disclosure responds to growing concerns around potential health effects of chemicals and other additives. A UC Berkeley study in 2024 also highlighted potential exposure to toxic metals. Massachusetts would follow other states that have already enacted similar laws.
The expanded access bill, S.2640, was advanced by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on October 9, 2025 on a 15-0 vote, following a 5-0 vote in the Joint Committee on Public Health on July 10, 2025. The Senate passed similar legislation in the last two successive terms.
The ingredients disclosure bill, S.2641, was given a 15-0 favorable report by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on October 9, 2025 following a 5-0 vote of the Joint Committee on Public Health on July 10, 2025. All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website.
Both bills were passed by the Senate on bipartisan 39-0 roll call votes and now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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