Washington Legislature OKs 'tampon tax' exemption bill
Columbia Basin Herald | UPDATED 5 years, 9 months AGO
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Legislature has approved a measure that would make Washington the 20th state to not tax feminine hygiene products.
The measure passed the House Tuesday on a 95-2 vote and now heads to the governor. It was unanimously approved by the Senate on Saturday. Once signed by the governor, the new law takes effect July 1.
Under the bill, products that are exempt from sales and use tax include sanitary napkins, tampons, menstrual cups, or any other similar menstrual product.
The measure was part of the Senate supplemental budget plan, and its passage by both chambers comes as lawmakers are nearing an end of negotiations on a final budget before the Legislature adjourns on Thursday.
Washington is currently among 31 states that still tax menstrual products, according to Period Equity, a nonprofit group that is campaigning to end the so-called “tampon tax” in states.