GOV. ABBOTT, OTHER STATE OFFICIALS SUPPORT REPEALING ‘TAMPON TAX’

  

Governor Greg Abbott and several other state officials have indicated they are in favor of getting rid of the sales tax on menstrual products.

In a statement on Friday, Office of the Governor Press Secretary Renae Eze told The Texas Tribune that Abbott “fully supports exempting feminine hygiene products from state and local sales tax.”  The statement said Abbott “looks forward to working with the legislature in the next session to remove this tax burden on Texas women.”

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar and State Senator Joan Huffman, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said on Thursday that they also seek to remove the sales tax on tampons and other feminine hygiene products.  Hegar said the taxing of such items is “archaic,” while Huffman said the products are “not optional” and essential to women’s health and well-being.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Friday that he too supports the measure, calling it a “common-sense tax exemption for women.”

Proposals to remove the sales tax on menstrual products have been filed in every legislative session since 2017, but all have failed.  There are 24 states where the items are tax exempt.

Abbott, Hegar, Huffman, and Patrick, who are all Republicans, are contested in November’s general election.