Michigan Democrats backing bill to fund schools putting tampons in boys’ bathrooms

A Democratic state representative in Michigan has filed a bill that would have taxpayers spend millions on tampons placed in boys’ and girls’ bathrooms.

House Bill 6168, filed by state Rep. Mai Xiong late last month, would make $10 million available to reimburse school districts that put menstrual products in their student bathrooms, including boys’ bathrooms.

The proposal would cover menstrual products put in a “bathroom designated for use by females” plus those in a “bathroom designated for use by males or both males and females.”

That language covers girls’ bathrooms, boys’ bathrooms, and gender-neutral bathrooms, such as handicapped bathrooms.

If the bill becomes law, schools would submit applications for these reimbursements and would receive funding for 50% of the cost of these purchases. However, schools where more than half of students receive free or reduced-priced lunches would be eligible for a higher reimbursement rate, determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Republican state Rep. Bill Schuette criticized the proposal, saying he hoped Democrats would learn from their November election losses, and that this proposal shows some have not. 

“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 told 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.” 

Additionally, Molly Macek, education policy director at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, called the proposal a waste of money. 

“This legislation represents yet another example of lawmakers directing taxpayer dollars to services that will have no impact on student learning outcomes,” Macek told Michigan Capitol Confidential. 

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Appropriations on Nov. 26, the day Xiong introduced it. No further action has been taken, though the proposal currently has 13 co-sponsors. 

If the bill fails to become law by the end of this year, it has little chance of passing anytime soon. Although Democrats currently have a state government trifecta in Michigan, Republicans flipped the Michigan House of Representatives in the 2024 general election and will control that chamber in January. 

Even so, other Democrat-controlled states such as Oregon, Connecticut and Minnesota have laws that result in public schools putting tampons in boys’ bathrooms.