By the time this information becomes available to all parents and community members I am sure we will all be very aware that Illinois schools are being required to provide Feminine products in School district restrooms regardless of the gender of those restrooms.  For a number of years, school districts in Illinois have been tasked with providing adequate facilities for all students including transgender students.  In most cases, districts have offered alternative settings, restrooms designated as unisex and allowing access to facilities that best meet the needs of the individual student.  

In May of 2021 the Illinois Legislature passed the legislation shared below, requiring free Feminine sanitary products be made available in all restrooms used by students grades 4-12.   As such, school districts across Illinois are adding feminine product dispensers in all restrooms, JWLA has also recently completed installing dispensers in required restrooms.  We are required to meet this law and will continue to follow the Laws of Illinois to the best of our ability.  While we know, there are strong opinions on this matter we would encourage you to reach out to your legislators to express your personal opinions on Public Act 102-0340.  Thank you.


Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections 10-20.63 and 34-18.56 as follows: (105 ILCS 5/10-20.63) Sec. 10-20.63. Availability of menstrual feminine hygiene products. (a) The General Assembly finds the following: (1) Menstrual Feminine hygiene products are a health care necessity and not an item that can be foregone or substituted easily. (2) Access to menstrual feminine hygiene products is a serious and ongoing need in this State. (3) When students do not have access to affordable menstrual feminine hygiene products, they may miss multiple days of school every month. (4) When students have access to quality menstrual feminine hygiene products, they are able to continue with their daily lives with minimal interruption. (b) In this Section: "Menstrual hygiene products" "Feminine hygiene products" means tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with HB0156  menstrual cycle. "School building" means any facility (i) that is owned or leased by a school district or over which the school board has care, custody, and control and (ii) in which there is a public school serving students in grades 6 through 12. (c) A school district shall make menstrual feminine hygiene products available, at no cost to students, in bathrooms of every school building that are open for student use in grades 4 through 12 during the regular school day the bathrooms of school buildings. (Source: P.A. 100-163, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.) (105 ILCS 5/34-18.56) Sec. 34-18.56. Availability of menstrual feminine hygiene products. (a) The General Assembly finds the following: (1) Menstrual Feminine hygiene products are a health care necessity and not an item that can be foregone or substituted easily. (2) Access to menstrual feminine hygiene products is a serious and ongoing need in this State. (3) When students do not have access to affordable menstrual feminine hygiene products, they may miss multiple days of school every month. (4) When students have access to quality menstrual feminine hygiene products, they are able to continue with their daily lives with minimal interruption. (b) In this Section: "Menstrual hygiene products" "Feminine hygiene products" means tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle. "School building" means any facility (i) that is owned or leased by the school district or over which the board has care, custody, and control and (ii) in which there is a public school serving students in grades 6 through 12. (c) The school district shall make menstrual feminine hygiene products available, at no cost to students, in bathrooms of every school building that are open for student use in grades 4 through 12 during the regular school day the bathrooms of school buildings. (Source: P.A. 100-163, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.) Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law