By Sanchali Singh
(MONTPELIER, Vt.) Starting July 1, Vermont will no longer tax people for buying menstruation products like tampons and sanitary napkins.
The Burlington Free Press reported that new law came into effect after Gov. Phil Scott on June 8 signed tax bill H.436. The bill includes tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, sanitary napkins and other menstrual products as tax-exempt items.
The state Legislative Joint Fiscal Office estimated that no longer taxing menstrual products will reduce tax revenues in the Education Fund by $685,000.
"This revenue reduction is expected to remain relatively flat in future fiscal years," the fiscal analysis report stated, per the Burlington Free Press. "Vermont’s aging demographics are expected to put downward pressure on the future demand for these products."
Vermont has previously considered bills to eliminate sales tax on menstrual products. According to the New York Times, a similar bill was introduced in 2019 but didn’t progress as far as it did this year.
"Why are tampons taxed when Viagra isn’t? That’s the question at the heart of the push to repeal the so-called tampon tax, a catchy phrase that refers to state sales taxes applied to menstrual products," the New York Times wrote in 2019. "Opponents of the tax argue that tampons and pads should be treated like groceries and medical supplies: They should be tax-exempt because they are necessities."
According to Period Equity, a legal organization dedicated to fighting for menstrual equity, Vermont is now one of 22 states that no longer charges a sales tax on menstrual products.