INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana lawmakers approved a proposal for the “tampon tax” that would strike down the sales tax on feminine hygiene and menstrual products.
This week, Rep. Peggy Mayfield (R-Martinville) added new language that would do away with the state’s tax on these products by amending Senate Bill 256 as Indiana’s legislative session nears its conclusion.
The proposed language surrounding feminine hygiene products includes tax exemptions for tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, pads and “other similar tangible personal property designed for feminine hygiene in connection with the human menstrual cycle.”
Indiana’s sales tax on feminine hygiene products stands at 7 percent, which is one of the highest in the country, according to the Alliance for Period Supplies.
Senate Bill 256 will now be reviewed in the House before returning to the Senate for a decision on whether or not to approve the changes.
There has been a push by some Indiana lawmakers to remove the tax on feminine hygiene products in recent years. One of those lawmakers is Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington), who has publicly thrown her support behind legislation aimed at eliminating the “period tax” with previous attempts failing to gather enough support from Indiana Republicans.
Sen. Yoder has previously stated that the “period tax” forces girls and women to pay higher taxes on essential hygiene products.
Sen. Yoder released the following statement on the amendment to eliminate the sales tax on feminine hygiene products.
“This is incredible! This year, like last year, I introduced legislation to eliminate the unconstitutional and unjust tax on period products. No person should be blocked from going to work, school and engaging in society because they cannot access an essential health item. This tax is truly an extra burden on families who are already struggling to make ends meet and are sometimes forced into situations where they have to choose to buy food, gas or other essential items over menstrual discharge collection devices. Thank you to Representative Mayfield for introducing this amendment and bringing us one step closer to ending period poverty. ”
Sen. Yoder
Indiana is one of 21 states that currently impose a tampon tax.
