Washington Senate votes to exempt menstrual products from retail sales tax

The Washington state Senate approved a bill Saturday to exempt menstrual products from the retail sales tax.

The Senate voted 49-0 to approve SB 5147, which moves to the House.

The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, said she has received many emails from state residents and those across the nation referring to the unfairness of the “pink tax -- a tax [on menstrual products] that women pay exclusively because guys just don’t use them.”

Products covered by the bill include sanitary napkins, tampons, menstrual cups, or “any other similar product sold at retail designed specifically to catch menstrual flow either internally or externally.”

A health impact review of the bill found that it would “likely increase affordability of access to and use of menstrual hygiene products, which would likely improve health outcomes and decrease health inequities by socioeconomic status for individuals who menstruate.”

Beyond the tax cut for those who buy menstrual products, the bill also will help others in need, Wilson said. Menstrual products are one of the most common needs at a homeless shelter in her district. Volunteers regularly buy them to help those who can’t afford them at the shelter, she said.

“Simply put, we need to pass this bill. It’s the right thing to do -- period,” said Wilson, whose pun was met with laughter and applause from senators.

Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, said the bill also is among the few this session to provide tax relief.

“It’s not just tax relief for women. It’s tax relief for families because this involves the family budget and every dollar or cent that families have to reserve in their budget for other things is a good thing,” he said.

This bill is expected to decrease state revenue by about $4.6 million per year and local government revenue by $2 million, according to a state fiscal analysis.

Senators approved the bill after amending the title of the bill from “feminine hygiene products” to “menstrual products.”

State Sen. Emily Randall, D-Bremerton, said menstrual products is more specific.

“We know that not only women-identified people menstruate and we want to make sure all Washingtonians get the recognition and access to sales tax relief that they deserve,” she said.

The sales tax exemption would take effect July 1.

This story was originally published March 7, 2020 at 1:44 PM.