Legislation has been introduced that would exempt feminine hygiene products from Michigan sales and use tax. The exemption would include tampons, sanitary napkins and similar feminine hygiene products.
It was introduced by State Reps. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) and Brian K. Elder (D-Bay City) in the Michigan House, and state Sens. David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) and Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) in the Michigan Senate.
“Women continually and predictably will need to use feminine hygiene products for the majority of their adult lives,” said Rep. Brinks. “For her health and safety, as well as her own peace of mind, things like tampons and sanitary napkins are non-negotiables for a woman, so it is appropriate that these products be recognized for the essential need items that they are, and are treated accordingly.”
"This issue is simple for me – feminine hygiene products are essential for the health and well-being of women from their adolescent years through adulthood,” said Sen. Knezek. “Instead of classifying these products as luxury item, as the law currently states, we should treat them like the necessity they are. Michigan law exempts a number of medically necessary items from taxation – feminine hygiene products would be a natural addition to that list.”
Five states currently exempt such products from state taxes: Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Minnesota. In 2015, Canada also eliminated what was commonly referred to as the “tampon tax.”
In the House, Rep. Brinks introduced House Bill 4128 that would eliminate the use tax, while Rep. Elder introduced House Bill 4129 exempting the products from Michigan’s 6 percent sales tax. Senate Bills 91 and 92 were introduced in the senate, with Sen. Knezek introducing the bill to eliminate the use tax, while Sen. Warren’s bill dealt with the sales tax exemption.
