New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) has signed a bill into law requiring all public middle schools and high schools in the state to make menstrual hygiene products available for students free of charge.

Sununu signed S.B. 142 on Wednesday and tweeted that the legislation is about “equality and dignity.”

This legislation is about equality and dignity. SB 142 will help ensure young women in New Hampshire public schools will have the freedom to learn without disruption – and free of shame, or fear of stigma. https://t.co/26xrDvuTEr

— Chris Sununu (@GovChrisSununu) July 17, 2019

The New Hampshire Republican added that he believes the bill will “help ensure young women in New Hampshire public schools will have the freedom to learn without disruption — and free of shame, or fear of stigma.”

The bill, which is scheduled to take effect next year, requires the school boards at public middle and high schools in the state to provide students with free access to menstrual hygiene products in girls and gender-neutral restrooms.

{mosads}State Rep. Polly Campion (D), who co-sponsored the measure, told The Associated Press in a statement that “being an adolescent middle or high-schooler is hard enough without the fear and embarrassment of lacking proper care products during the school-day because you cannot afford them.” 

The measure, also dubbed the “period poverty” bill, sailed through the New Hampshire House in a 211-135 vote back in May.

The bill was inspired by Caroline Dillon, a local high school student who spoke out about the need for such a measure after she discovered some classmates had missed school because their families struggled to afford menstrual products.