SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2243

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 12, 2026

      The Senate Higher Education Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2243.

      As amended, this bill requires the president of each public institution of higher education to develop a plan for the achievement of menstrual equity at the institution. The plan shall address the current efforts, needs and access to menstrual products on campus and identify best practices towards achieving menstrual equity. The president may direct the Campus Hunger Task Force established under current law, convene a new task force, or otherwise establish an initiative to develop the plan.  

      The bill requires, no later than six months after the bill’s effective date, the establishment of a comprehensive and sustainable plan towards achieving menstrual equity on campus that is best suited to the needs of the institution.  The plan would include, but need not be limited to:

      (1) an estimate on the number of students and other individuals in need of free products;

      (2) suitable locations for free product distribution;

      (3) any other proposals that would advance the goal of menstrual equity on campus;

      (4) the projected cost of the plan; and

      (5) a timeline for implementation of the plan.

      The bill requires the president to forward the plan to the governing body of the institution, which shall then forward the plan to the Governor and to the Legislature.

      Finally, the bill requires the president of the institution to implement the plan within 12 months of the bill’s effective date.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

The committee amended the bill to:

· remove the requirement that a menstrual equity task force be convened; and

· provide that the president of each public institution of higher education develop a menstrual equity plan.  The amendments provide that, to achieve this plan, the president of a public institution of higher education may direct the Campus Hunger Task Force, convene a new task force, or otherwise establish an initiative to develop the plan.