Governor Healey Signs Historic Investment in Mass NOW’s Menstrual Equity Work

We’re thrilled to share that Governor Maura Healey has signed the FY27 state budget, including a $150,000 earmark for Mass NOW’s menstrual equity work, thanks to the leadership of Representative Marjorie Decker, who first filed this funding as a House budget amendment, and Senator Julian Cyr, who successfully secured the earmark in the final budget.

This investment comes at a critical moment. After the elimination of our previous state funding source, this earmark will help preserve Mass NOW’s statewide menstrual equity program and ensure we can continue serving communities across the Commonwealth.

It’s also an investment in the movement we’ve been building together since founding the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition in 2019. Over the past seven years, we’ve brought together advocates, service providers, healthcare professionals, educators, students, and legislators to transform menstrual equity from a niche issue into a statewide priority. This funding recognizes that work, and the impact our coalition has had across Massachusetts.

What makes this funding especially exciting is that it isn’t just for menstrual products—it’s for menstrual equity.

Menstrual equity means making sure everyone who menstruates has not only access to the products they need, but also the education and community support necessary to manage their periods with dignity. It means fighting the stigma surrounding menstruation, advocating for lasting policy change, training organizations to better serve their communities, and ensuring that trans, incarcerated, unhoused, low-income, disabled, and other historically underserved menstruators are not left behind.

This funding allows us to continue all of that work: distributing free menstrual products through our statewide network of community partners, providing menstrual health education and training, convening the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition, and continuing to fight for permanent legislative solutions that make period poverty a thing of the past.

We’re deeply grateful to Representative Decker and Senator Cyr for their steadfast leadership, and to every legislator, coalition partner, volunteer, donor, and advocate who helped make this victory possible.

This victory belongs to every person who has contacted a legislator, testified, donated, volunteered, distributed products, attended a coalition meeting, or spoken openly about periods. Together, we’ve proven that organizing works.

But we’re just getting started. If you’re ready to help build a Massachusetts where menstrual equity is a reality for everyone, we invite you to join the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition. Together, we’ll continue expanding access, advancing policy, challenging stigma, and ensuring every person can manage their period with dignity.