Ohio’s House Bill 29 focuses on a population often overlooked in menstrual equity conversations: incarcerated individuals. The legislation requires correctional facilities to:

• Provide menstrual products at no cost and in adequate supply based on individual need
• Ensure access cannot be denied except in emergency situations
• Establish policies for safe access and sanitary disposal
• Provide designated disposal areas and proper hygiene conditions
• Allow daily showers with hot water for those menstruating

This is a foundational shift. It establishes menstrual care not as a privilege, but as a standard of care tied to health, dignity, and basic human needs.

From an operational standpoint, correctional facilities must now:

• Maintain consistent inventory levels
• Provide secure but accessible distribution methods
• Ensure sanitation infrastructure supports product usage

This introduces a new category of demand within the corrections system—one that requires reliability and policy-aligned solutions.

Manitoba is taking a broader approach, committing to free menstrual products in public buildings across the province. This will make the province the first in Canada to require employers to provide free menstrual products to employees, ensuring workers have access to basic necessities while on the job.

This expands menstrual equity into:

• Government facilities
• Public-facing environments with high foot traffic
• Spaces serving diverse populations beyond a single user group

The implication is significant: menstrual products are being treated like core facility consumables, similar to soap, sanitizer, or paper products. Facilities must now think in terms of:

• High-volume usage and replenishment
• Strategic dispenser placement
• Maintenance integration across multiple building types

The bill is set to be The Workplace Safety and Health Branch will enforce compliance through existing workplace inspections. The new requirements will come into effect early August 2026. Hospeco Brands Group's Canadian distribution center in Woodstock, Ontario, is fully stocked with the products your customers need to become compliant.

New Jersey’s S2243 takes a planning-first approach by requiring public colleges and universities to formalize their path to menstrual equity. Institutions must:

• Convene cross-functional task forces
• Assess current access and unmet needs
• Identify distribution locations and best practices
• Develop cost projections and implementation timelines
• Fully implement within 12 months

This introduces accountability and structure, pushing institutions beyond ad hoc solutions toward system-wide programs. For procurement and facilities teams, this creates demand for partners who can support:

• Needs assessments
• Scalable product programs
• Long-term supply consistency

Hospeco Brands Group is uniquely positioned to develop menstrual care solutions for New Jersey higher education facilities. Our 300,000-square-foot facility in Philadelphia is stocked with the menstrual care products schools need. Schedule a meeting with experts who have been championing menstrual equity since 2015.