Legislation would reimburse schools for tampons in boys’ and girls’ bathrooms

Taxpayers would fund tampons and menstrual pads for Michigan student bathrooms under a new bill.

House Bill 6168, introduced by Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren on Nov. 26, aims to have the state reimburse school districts for feminine hygiene products in student bathrooms.

The bill would direct the state to reimburse school districts for at least 50% of the cost of providing tampons and menstrual pads. It says that any district seeking reimbursement must place the items in a “bathroom designated for use by females,” as well as a “bathroom designated for use by males or both males and females.”

One observer of public schools panned the idea. “This legislation represents yet another example of lawmakers directing taxpayer dollars to services that will have no impact on student learning outcomes,” said Molly Macek, education policy director at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

The bill was assigned to the House Appropriations Committee during the lame-duck session, when there is a rush to pass bills before the term expires.

Democratic lawmakers should focus on other policies, said Rep. Bill Schuette, R-Midland, R-Midland.

“After the result of last month’s election, you would hope Michigan Democrats would be self-aware enough to realize that taxpayer-funded tampons in the boys’ bathrooms is both bad policy and very unpopular, but it appears they’ve yet to recognize that,” Schuette, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said in an email to Michigan Capitol Confidential.

“I would hope in our final days of lame duck, we work to responsibly fund our roads, education and public safety, not cater to far-left culture wars,” he said.

Michigan Capitol Confidential previously reported on one parent’s lawsuit against her school district after officials rebuffed her request to view her student’s gender curriculum.

Under HB 6168, the state would allot $10 million for reimbursement purpose, which districts could obtain by submitting an application. Districts would be paid back at least half their cost, but a district would receive extra if more than half its students were eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the federal school lunch program.

Xiong did not respond to an email seeking comment.