AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 6, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

98

Introduced by Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Alanis, Soria, and Tangipa)

February 18, 2026

An act to add Section 139 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to health.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to develop a coordinated state strategy for addressing the health-related needs of women, as specified.

This bill, the Rural Farmworker Women’s Health Act of 2026, would require the department to, beginning July 1, 2027, January 1, 2028, and upon appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, establish a program to work with local nonprofit organizations who have a history of serving farmworker communities to provide free menstrual products in rural or agricultural communities. The bill would require the department to prioritize those communities with the highest rates of poverty.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Rural Farmworker Women’s Health Act of 2026.

SEC. 2.

Section 139 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

139.

(a) For purposes of this section, “menstrual products” includes tampons, sanitary napkins, panty liners, and menstrual cups.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2027, January 1, 2028, and upon appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, the State Department of Public Health shall establish a program to work with local nonprofit organizations who have a history of serving farmworker communities to provide free menstrual products in rural or agricultural communities. The department shall prioritize the rural or agricultural communities with the highest rates of poverty.