Utah
Free period products in Utah schools has positive impact on students, survey finds
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — In 2022, the Utah Legislature unanimously passed H.B. 162, mandating that public and charter schools provide free period products in girls’ and unisex restrooms for grades K-12. A recent survey by The Policy Project shows that two years since its passing, the bill is having positive impacts.
The Policy Project has been lobbying for menstrual equity since 2018. The Utah-based nonprofit led the effort to pass H.B. 162, and on Tuesday it released the findings of an impact report where Utah high school students were surveyed.
The findings show that access to period products is positively affecting school attendance, with 55.7% of survey respondents saying they were able to participate in school and activities that were missed previously due to access to period products.
Additionally, the report found that there’s a strong correlation between providing period products in schools and reducing negative menstruation stigma, with 75.8% of survey respondents saying their comfort level in talking about menstruation increased.
“The Policy Project is committed not only to the passage of the bill but also to its successful implementation,” Emily Bell McCormick, founder and president of The Policy Project, said in the news release. “Thanks to the collaborative and courageous efforts of legislators, donors, and community members, the implementation of HB 162 has been both successful and comprehensive—a type of execution not seen in other states with similar legislation.”
According to The Policy Project report, nearly 1,400 students from 20 of Utah’s 29 counties responded to the survey, with no single school representing more than 10% of the survey.
Per the report, an estimated 337,000 menstruating students were impacted by H.B. 162 during the 2022-2023 school year. Additionally, the report stated that the law is expected to help more than 1.3 million students by 2065.
“This survey response was incredible, and the proof of concept is there,” Kristin Andrus, community champion of The Policy Project, said. “Although there is still room for growth in the realm of equity and empowerment for girls, it is safe to say that providing access to period products in schools is really moving the needle.”
According to The Policy Project, the responses to the survey show that H.B. 162 is fulfilling its primary goals, which were to enhance educational outcomes across the state by “increasing productivity and school attendance outcomes” and to “destigmatize menstruation through normalized access to period products.”
Nationally, a 2021 study by Thinx & PERIOD found that one in five teens in the U.S. have struggled to afford period products or were not able to purchase them at all, and more than four in five students in the U.S. missed class or knew someone who did due to lack of access to period products. It also was reported that a majority of teens said they felt shame, self-consciousness and embarrassment around their periods.
One year after the passing of H.B. 162, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and advocates with The Policy Project announced that all state executive branch buildings would now have free period products, marking Utah as the first state in the nation to make period products free in state buildings.
Southern Utah shipment is part of the faith’s yearlong celebration of the Declaration of Independence.
(Mark Eddington | The Salt Lake Tribune) Movers load part of a donation of 20,000 pounds of food to Switchpoint’s St. George food pantry by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
Schmaltz’s 24 goals this season are a new career-high. He’s been a consistently strong presence and has taken on more responsibility with the switch from wing to center. His goal on the power play came just eight seconds into the man-advantage and opened the scoring early in the second period. In addition to his goal, he had an assist on Utah’s second goal of the game. Tourigny discussed Schmaltz’s maturity following the win.
“He’s a mature person, mature man,” Tourigny explained. “He really wants to make a difference. I always say about Schmaltz, (he’s) a gamer. He wants to play in those moments, and I think he’s excited about where our team is at, and he wants to be a big part of it, and he is. He’s a huge leader for us.”
Utah held Philadelphia to 16 total shots: four in the first period, seven in the second, and five in the third. The Mammoth showed their strong defensive game in the win.
“I think that’s when we’re at our best, when we’re defending hard,” Schmaltz said. “We’re playing with a lot of pace, not giving them time and space, frustrating them, and making them force plays, and then we turn it over and go the other way.”
On the flip side, against a stingy Philadelphia defense, Utah generated 23 shots including 14 in the second period. Schmaltz spoke to what led to the increased opportunities in the middle frame.
“A little bit more direct,” Schmaltz shared. “I think our transition game was really good. We were catching them, kind of hemming them in. Good line changes and just rolling them over and shooting a little bit more.”
In addition to Schmaltz’s goal, Captain Clayton Keller scored his 19th of the season seven and half minutes after his linemate’s tally to increase the score to 2-0. Michael Carcone’s empty net goal with 1:48 left in regulation secured the 3-0 win.
Additional Notes from Tonight (per Mammoth PR)
- The Mammoth’s power play went 1-for-2 against the Flyers. Utah has scored seven power play goals in seven games (7-for-18, 38.9%). On the other side of special teams, the Mammoth’s penalty kill went 3-for-3.
- JJ Peterka played his 300th NHL game. Peterka was selected 34th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft and is the ninth player from his draft class to reach the milestone. He is also just the eighth German-born forward in NHL history to accomplish the feat.
- Keller has recorded 11 points in his last seven games (2/2-3/5: 3g, 8a), finding the scoresheet in six of those contests.
- With two assists tonight, Dylan Guenther has posted his second straight multi-point outing (3/3 at WSH: 1g, 1a) and his third in five games (2/25 vs. COL: 2g).
Utah has won the first two games of a five-game road trip. Up next, the Mammoth travel to Columbus and face the Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
Upcoming Schedule
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Officials have identified a 22-year-old man as the suspect in a Las Vegas homicide case that killed two people in a Southern Highlands neighborhood.
Detectives say 22-year-old Ziaire Ham was the suspect in the case. According to officials, Ham was located on Tuesday, March 3, by the Ogden City Police Department and the Utah Highway Patrol.
Ham was taken into custody and booked into the Weber County Jail. Las Vegas authorities said he will be charged with open murder with the use of a deadly weapon and will be extradited back to the valley.
MORE ON FOX5: LVMPD corrections officer arrested on multiple felony charges
The shooting occurred Monday night at the 11000 block of Victoria Medici Street, near Starr Ave and Dean Martin Drive.
According to police, officers were conducting a vehicle stop in the area when they heard gunfire. After searching nearby neighborhoods they found a car with bullet impacts with a woman and a toddler inside suffering from gunshot wounds.
The pair were transported to hospital where they later died. The Clark County Coroner’s Office identified them as Danaijha Robinson, 20, and 1-year-old Nhalani Hiner.
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