Free Menstrual Products to Students

With exceptions, school districts, district charter schools, institute charter schools, and boards of cooperative services that operate one or more public schools (local education provider), are required to provide free menstrual products:

• In at least 25% of applicable student bathrooms in all applicable school buildings by June 30, 2025;
• In at least 50% of applicable student bathrooms in all applicable school buildings by June 30, 2026; and
• In at least 75% of applicable student bathrooms in all applicable school buildings by June 30, 2025.

By June 30, 2028, all local education providers, the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind, and approved facility schools are required to provide free menstrual products to students in all applicable student bathrooms in all applicable school buildings.

The act provides exceptions for applicable school buildings that do not have a gender-neutral bathroom, for applicable school buildings that provide educational services only to students who are enrolled in kindergarten through grade 6, and if the local education provider, Colorado school for the deaf and the blind, or approved facility school is experiencing vandalism or destruction of property because of complying with the act.

The act expands eligibility for the menstrual hygiene products accessibility grant program (grant program) to make rural school districts, small rural school districts, or charter schools within these districts eligible for a grant award.

For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $100,000 to the department of education (department) for the grant program. The act allows the department to retain up to 10% of the appropriation on actual administrative costs for the grant program and allows grant awards to be used to acquire a dispensing machine or disposal receptacle for menstrual hygiene products.

APPROVED by Governor June 5, 2024

EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)