Minnesota became the first state to end the tax on menstrual products in 1981, when the state exempted all health products from its state sales tax. It took 10 years for another state to remove the tax. In 1991, Pennsylvania removed the sales tax on paper products, which included period products. A rapid influx of states eliminating the tax began in 2013, when Massachusetts declared period products medical devices and ended the tax. In the years between 2013 and 2023, 20 states have declared period products tax exempt. In 2017, Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) eliminated the tax on menstrual products as part of a $180 million tax cut package. Virginia is among the most recent states to remove the sales tax on period products, as Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) signed a bill exempting basic necessities, including period products, diapers, and adult incontinence products from Virginia’s state sales tax in July 2022. The law went into effect in January 2023.
Other states are moving toward getting rid of the tax this year as well. Notably, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced his support for eliminating the sales tax on menstrual products. “Governor Abbott fully supports exempting feminine hygiene products from state and local sales tax,” Renae Eze, a spokesperson for the governor, told The Texas Tribune (Tampon Tax, 2022). “These are essential products for women’s health and quality of life, and the Governor looks forward to working with the legislature in the next session to remove this tax burden on Texas women.” (Melhado, 2022)
Georgia STOMP is glad that so many states have taken the step forward in recognizing this injustice, and believe that Georgia should be added to the list of states who no longer assess this discriminatory tax. Visit the Take Action page on the Georgia STOMP website to contact your legislators and express your support for eliminating the tax on menstrual products in Georgia.
