An Ohio bill aiming to provide free feminine hygiene products to incarcerated women has made progress in the legislative process. The bipartisan House Bill 29, sponsored by Reps. Latyna Humphrey and Marilyn John, passed unanimously in the Ohio House. If enacted, the bill would mandate that all jails and prisons housing women in the state offer a sufficient supply of pads and tampons in various sizes. Additionally, facilities would be required to ensure access to at least one daily shower for menstruating inmates and develop formal distribution policies.
During the bill’s journey through the House, it received support from various individuals, including Zachary Miller from the Office of the Public Defender. Miller emphasized the critical nature of feminine hygiene products for incarcerated women’s health and well-being, cautioning against potential health risks and power imbalances resulting from limited access to these products. Former female inmates shared personal accounts of challenges faced due to inadequate access to menstrual products, resorting to using makeshift alternatives like socks or toilet paper.
While the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction issued a policy in 2022 to provide free and unlimited feminine hygiene products to women in its care, concerns remain about the consistency of access. Rep. Humphrey highlighted the possibility of the policy being revoked and cited instances where access to these products was not guaranteed in certain correctional facilities across Ohio.
According to estimates, Ohio incarcerates around 3,000 to 4,000 women, with the state department spending approximately $173,500 on feminine hygiene products in prisons last year. The bill’s passage in the House signifies a significant step towards addressing the issue of menstrual hygiene in carceral settings. Notably, a similar bill introduced by Rep. Humphrey in a previous legislative session unanimously passed the House but stalled in the Senate.
House Bill 29 will now advance to the Senate for further deliberation. If enacted, Ohio would join 25 other states with laws mandating the provision of free feminine hygiene products for incarcerated women, underscoring the growing recognition of the importance of menstrual health care in correctional facilities nationwide.
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