NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two Tennessee lawmakers would like to see new products added to the state’s annual sales tax holiday.
HB 813/SB 188 would add feminine hygiene products to the list of qualified products that have sales tax suspended during the state’s annual sales tax holiday in the summertime.
Currently the annual sales tax holiday only applies to school supplies, certain technological products like laptops or tablets, and clothes. The idea behind the sales tax holiday is to give Tennesseans the opportunity to purchase school-related items ahead of each school year.
But the bills, brought by Memphis Sen. London Lamar and Rep. Larry Miller, would add menstrual products to the list of tax-free items.
The bill includes tampons, pads, liners, menstrual cups and douches.
Miller, who carries the bill in the House, said he was proud to carry the companion legislation for Sen. Lamar, as it was something he was interested in learning more about.
“The more I read, the more impressed I am with what we’re trying to do here,” he told News 2.
Specifically, Miller said a study revealed 44% of female students reported feeling “stressed or embarrassed” because they could not afford menstrual products.
“If that’s such an issue and this tax exemption could relieve some of that stress, I’m all for it,” he said.
According to the fiscal note on the bill, the measure would result in a net loss of about $255,000 each year for the state, which Miller said was easily affordable for a government with a budget in excess of $50 billion.
“The state can afford that, and I think citizens of this state could support that as well,” Miller said.
Further, when a significant portion of the female population view access to menstrual products as a “critical issue,” lawmakers should take notice.
“When you have that many females saying that it is a critical issue to them, then we should listen. We should pay attention to them,” he told News 2.
Both Senate and House versions of the bills have been placed behind the budget, according to Miller, meaning no further discussion will take place until lawmakers hash out those details. Additionally, the Senate version of the bill received a negative recommendation from the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Subcommittee.
But Miller also said placing a bill behind the budget or having a negative recommendation does not mean it has no chance of passage. He told News 2 he has been able to get several bills that received negative recommendations through to passage throughout his time in the legislature.
