Maryland Delegate Kathy Szeliga has publicly criticized a bill that would require menstrual products to be stocked in all public restrooms, including men’s facilities in state-owned buildings, arguing that it highlights misplaced priorities and unanswered fiscal questions in Annapolis.
Szeliga took the House floor to press colleagues on HB 941 and to get straight answers about where these supplies would land. She zeroed in on major venues like the Ravens’ football stadium and Camden Yards, asking whether state-owned facilities would be forced to comply. Her tone made it clear she views this as a symptom of lawmakers focused on symbolic gestures instead of real fiscal fixes.
On the floor she asked, “What are appropriately sized tampons?” earning audible reactions from members. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. What do you consider appropriate?” she asked, pushing the point that the bill’s language is vague at best. The exchange underlined how lawmakers can write mandates without nailing down basic details.
Democratic Delegate Ken Kerr tried to reassure colleagues by saying the language “just means that tampons are offered, there’s no specific size.” Szeliga shot back that if that was the intent, the bill should say so plainly and not wander into odd phrasing. That back-and-forth exposed sloppy drafting more than a principled dispute.
Szeliga also asked a simple operational question: which state-owned buildings would be covered. Kerr responded, “If it is a state-owned building, then yes, it would go in – it’s a public building,” Kerr said when asked about the football stadium, even though he refused to answer the question in any certain terms. “If Raven stadium is a state building, then yes, it would apply … If it applies to the Raven Stadium it would also apply to Oriole Park.” That admission matters because the Maryland Stadium Authority runs major venues that see huge crowds.
Beyond stadiums, the bill could touch airports and other large state-run spaces that handle millions of visitors. Szeliga warned that a law like this applied broadly creates major logistics and cost questions that the legislature has left unanswered. She noted the fiscal note on the bill said ‘undetermined’ because there are so many state-owned public buildings, pointing to an obvious problem: lawmakers want to force a program without knowing what it will actually cost taxpayers.
State agencies reportedly raised concerns about the cost of carrying out the requirement, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources projected upfront expenses around $400,000. Szeliga argued those are real numbers taxpayers will feel, and that administrative overhead alone will eat into budgets that are already under strain. “Even if they determine to shift some of the cost to the consumer, this still creates hundreds-of-thousands of dollars worth of administrative costs to put tampons in men’s bathrooms – just
for the administrative costs,” Szeliga pointed out, highlighting how implementation can balloon beyond sticker price.
She also reminded listeners that Republicans had previously narrowed similar proposals so they applied sensibly to campus health centers and dorm housing, rather than blanket mandates across entire institutions. That compromise framed the issue as one of targeted policy versus all-encompassing rules written without nuance. To Szeliga, the latest proposal abandons that pragmatic approach and reaches for universal coverage without working through the consequences.
Szeliga framed the push as part of a broader trend in certain Democratic-controlled states, arguing it reflects a lack of focus on urgent fiscal problems. “There seems to be an obsession with feminine hygiene products in Maryland, in Annapolis, in the legislature. It must be coming from some national movement, but they have tried in the past to make sure that there was adequate, as they would say, or, you know, feminine hygiene products, but this is now taking it to a whole new level,” Szeliga said. Her point was blunt: when you have a massive budget hole, voters expect lawmakers to prioritize balancing the books, not new mandates with shaky cost estimates.
In the end, the bill to require tampons in public men’s bathrooms was introduced by more than ten Democratic delegates and remains pending, with neither chamber having passed it yet. For critics on the right, this episode has become a talking point about accountability, transparency, and the need for legislation that respects both taxpayers and practical realities. “This is the kind of thing that we see happening in radical Democrat states with super majorities, where they’ve run out of ideas,” Szeliga concluded, delivering a pointed critique of priorities in Annapolis.
Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.