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ATLANTA – State Representatives Sandra Scott (D-Rex), Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) and Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) recently introduced House Bill 25, the Dignity is Essential Act, which seeks to address hygiene inequity. HB25 would allow recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to purchase certain hygiene products, specifically diapers and menstrual hygiene items, should a federal waiver become available.
HB 25 would mandate that if the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) permits states to allocate SNAP and WIC benefits for the purchase of these items, Georgia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) would be required to apply for the waiver and implement the necessary changes.
HB 25 would allow low-income individuals and families to use public assistance for essential hygiene products, allow access to diapers and menstrual products, benefit low-income parents and ensure Georgia is prepared to take advantage of federal waivers, if they become available.
“Access to hygiene products is not a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said Rep. Scott. “No parent should have to choose between buying diapers and feeding their child, and no one should have to go without menstrual products due to financial hardship. HB 25 is about dignity, health and fairness.”
“This bill is a step toward addressing systemic inequities in public assistance,” said Rep. Davis. “By allowing SNAP and WIC benefits to cover essential hygiene products, we ensure that families, particularly women and children, can live with dignity and security.”
“We are fighting for the basic needs of our most vulnerable populations,” said Rep. Schofield. “HB 25 is not just a bill—it’s a commitment to public health, economic justice and human dignity.”
HB 25 would amend the law to require DHS to submit a waiver request if FNS makes that option available. Upon approval, DHS would be required to implement the changes to allow SNAP and WIC recipients to use their benefits for purchasing diapers and menstrual hygiene products.
To read the full text of HB 25, please click here.