Where does legislation on including period products in SNAP eligibility stand, and who is for and against it? Map the bills, sponsors, and coalition, cited to the official record.

Federal Legislation

Current Status: All federal bills remain in committee — none have advanced to floor votes.

Active Bills (119th Congress)

H.R. 922 - Period PROUD Act (introduced Feb 4, 2025)

  • Sponsor: Rep. Sean Casten [D-IL-6]
  • Status: Referred to Ways and Means and Budget committees
  • Scope: Funds menstrual product distribution through Social Services Block Grant (narrower approach)
  • Cosponsors: 32 members, all Democrats — led by Rep. Hank Johnson [D-GA], Rep. Mikie Sherrill [D-NJ], Rep. Jill Tokuda [D-HI], Rep. Gwen Moore [D-WI]
  • Lobbying: Kimberly-Clark Corporation registered activity (1 filing, 2025)

H.R. 3644 - Menstrual Equity For All Act (introduced May 29, 2025)

  • Sponsor: Rep. Grace Meng [D-NY-6]
  • Status: Referred to 7 committees (Education, Judiciary, Financial Services, Energy & Commerce, Transportation, Ways & Means, Budget)
  • Scope: Comprehensive — requires Medicaid coverage, establishes TANF grants, increases Social Services Block Grant funding, mandates free products in schools/colleges/federal buildings/prisons, requires employer provision (100+ employees), prohibits state/local sales taxes
  • Cosponsors: 76 members, all Democrats — includes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [D-NY], Rep. Rashida Tlaib [D-MI], Rep. Pramila Jayapal [D-WA], Rep. Cori Bush (not listed but likely supporter based on pattern)
  • Lobbying: No registered activity yet

S. 5066 - Health Equity and Accountability Act (introduced July 22, 2026)

  • Sponsor: Sen. Alex Padilla [D-CA]
  • Status: Referred to Finance Committee
  • Scope: Includes menstrual product provisions within broader health equity bill
  • Cosponsors: 4 senators — Raphael Warnock [D-GA], Cory Booker [D-NJ], Mazie Hirono [D-HI], Tammy Duckworth [D-IL]

Prior Congresses (for context)

  • H.R. 3614 (117th, 2021) and H.R. 3646 (118th, 2023) — earlier Meng bills, same comprehensive approach, both stalled in committee
  • S. 4773 (118th, 2024) — Senate companion to H.R. 9161, also stalled

State Legislation

832 bills active across 47 states — far more legislative momentum at state level than federal.

Leading states by bill count:

  • New Jersey: 93 bills (lead: A 3103 — pilot program covering menstrual hygiene under Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare, introduced)
  • New York: 65 bills (lead: A 7655 — allows SNAP benefits for menstrual products, introduced Sept 16, 2026)
  • Illinois: 57 bills (lead: HB 4874 — SNAP-feminine hygiene products, introduced)
  • Massachusetts: 55 bills (lead: S 2546 — increase access to disposable menstrual products, introduced)
  • Missouri: 53 bills (lead: HB 126 — tax exemption for feminine hygiene products and diapers, introduced)

Enacted state laws:

  • Texas: SB 379 (88th session) — sales tax exemption for family care items (enacted)
  • Minnesota: HF 5247 (2023-2024) — taxation and state government operations (signed)
  • Ohio: HB 29 (136th session) — inmate access to feminine hygiene products (enacted)
  • Nevada: AB 224 (81st session) — access to menstrual products in public schools (signed)
  • Vermont: H 436 (2021-2022) — miscellaneous tax law changes (signed)
  • Nebraska: LB 1284 (108th session) — pilot program to distribute menstrual products in schools (signed)
  • Indiana: SB 6 (2018) — general provisions amendment (signed)

Coalition & Opposition

Support (Federal):

  • Democratic caucus: All 32-76 cosponsors are Democrats; no Republican support on any bill
  • Key advocates: Rep. Grace Meng (lead sponsor, multiple congresses), Rep. Sean Casten, Congressional Progressive Caucus members, Congressional Black Caucus members
  • Lobbying: Minimal — only Kimberly-Clark registered on H.R. 922 (menstrual product manufacturer)

Opposition:

  • No formal opposition recorded in press releases or hearing testimony (competitive landscape returned zero oppose stances)
  • Likely opposition sources (inferred from policy): Conservative groups opposing expanded welfare/government spending, business groups opposing employer mandates, state tax authorities opposing sales tax exemptions — but no public statements captured in the record yet

Bipartisan potential: None evident — all bills are Democratic-sponsored with Democratic-only cosponsors. No Republican members have joined any federal bill.

Sources

Sources

  1. H.R. 922 (i) - (ii) - Period PROUD (Providing Resources for Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act of 2025 (Congress.gov)
  2. S. 4773 § 1 - Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2024 (Congress.gov)
  3. H.R. 3644 (C) - (ii) - Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2025 (Congress.gov)
  4. H.R. 3614 (d) - Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2021 (Congress.gov)
  5. H.R. 9161 § 1 - Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2024 (Congress.gov)
  6. H.R. 3646 (i) - (ii) - Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2023 (Congress.gov)
  7. S. 5066 (I) - (I) - Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026 (Congress.gov)
  8. H.R. 4475 (i) - (ii) - Period PROUD (Providing Resources for Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act of 2023 (Congress.gov)
  9. H.R. 9504 (i) - (ii) - Period PROUD (Providing Resources for Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act of 2022 (Congress.gov)
  10. H.R. 7585 § 3 - Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022 (Congress.gov)
  11. H.R. 2478 § 4 - Menstrual Products in Federal Buildings Act (Congress.gov)
  12. H.R. 6212 § 1 - Good Samaritan Menstrual Products Act (Congress.gov)
  13. Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" (D-GA) (Congress.gov)
  14. Rep. Sherrill, Mikie (D-NJ) (Congress.gov)
  15. Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. (D-HI) (Congress.gov)
  16. Rep. Moore, Gwen (D-WI) (Congress.gov)
  17. Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. (D-IL) (Congress.gov)
  18. Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes (D-DC) (Congress.gov)
  19. Rep. Lee, Summer L. (D-PA) (Congress.gov)
  20. Rep. Torres, Ritchie (D-NY) (Congress.gov)

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