Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar and Republican State Senator Joan Huffman want to see state and local sales tax on feminine hygiene products repealed.
Huffman is the chair of the Senate Committee on Finance. Hegar says "Taxing these products is archaic, and it is time for Texas to join the 24 states that already exempt tampons and other feminine hygiene products from sales tax."
He says this is an issue the legislature has discussed, only. The next Texas legislative session gavels in in January. He says it's extremely important this legislation be passed.
He says last year his wife and 17-year-old daughter volunteered at a food bank. "My wife came home and made a comment on what was most important to a lot of the women who showed up for groceries, was actually the question was 'do you have my hygiene products in the package as well.'" He says that was a common question.
"Women have a cost with these issues and this helps level the playing field."
An estimate from the Comptroller’s office shows that sales tax on feminine hygiene products would generate about $28.6 million annually during the next biennium. Hegar projects an ending balance of $27 billion dollars for the biennium.