SB 143

HYGIENE FOR MOTHERS Subject to appropriations, this bill requires the department of health to provide free diapers to a resident of this state who is a new mother or a working parent or guardian of a child less than two, upon the resident's request. However, this bill does not apply to (i) a resident or guardian of a r e sident child who participates in the state's free diaper program as a recipient of the TennCare medicaid program, or (ii) as an enrollee in the Cover Kids program. The department must display the instructions for requesting free diapers on its website. This bill also requires the department of health to collaborate with the department of human services, and other state agencies as the department deems appropriate, to create a public health campaign dedicated to providing diapers to new mothers and worki n g parents or guardians using funds specifically appropriated for this purpose during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. HYGIENE FOR CHILDREN Present law authorizes each local education agency (LEA) to provide feminine hygiene products, at no charge, in all wom en's and girl's bathrooms and locker rooms in public high schools that are eligible to participate in the community eligibility provision under the national school lunch program, excluding any bathrooms specifically designated for teacher or staff use. T h is bill revises this provision to, instead, require each LEA and public charter school to provide such products and expands the definition of eligible schools to now include public schools in general, including public charter schools. Additionally, this b ill revises the above provision to now specify that these products must be provided in all women's and girl's bathrooms and locker rooms regularly used by students in grades four through 12. This bill requires the state to reimburse each LEA and public c harter school that provides feminine hygiene products pursuant to this bill in an amount equal to the cost of the products paid by the LEA or public charter school. Additionally, t he department of health must collaborate with the state board of education, and other state agencies as the department deems appropriate, to create a public health campaign dedicated to encouraging individuals and nonprofit organizations to contribute or drop off feminine hygiene products to eligible schools.