Local Legislators Call For Abolition of 'Tampon Tax' In RI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Two Rhode Island legislators are calling for an end to Rhode Island's so-called "tampon tax." Representative Edith Ajello (D-Dist. 1, Providence) and Senator Lou DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Tiverton, Newport) introduced identical bills into both chambers of the General Assembly on Thursday.

"Menstrual products are a necessity to women, regardless of their ability to afford them, and many can’t," Rep. Ajello said in a release. "Imposing a tax on them makes a regular necessity more expensive, and amounts to a tax on being a woman. Does the state really need to collect a profit from every woman each time she needs feminine hygiene products? As a matter of principle and a matter of the financial needs of many Rhode Island women, our state should add menstrual products the many items that are already exempt from sales tax.”

DiPalma and Ajello have introduced the legislation every year since 2016. It is supported by Planned Parenthood, the Rhode Island Medical Society and the Women's Policy Institute.

"Rhode Island should not be taxing feminine hygiene products as if buying them is some kind of luxury that indicates a person’s ability to pitch in a little more to support the state," DiPalma said. "They are a necessity, and one that is already fairly expensive for those of limited means. You can’t buy them with SNAP, and many women and girls can’t afford as many as they actually need. The state doesn’t need to add to their costs. For the same reason we exempt food and clothing — necessity — we should exempt menstrual products."

Under the legislation, menstrual hygiene products including pads, tampons and menstrual cups would be exempt from sales tax. Rhode Island sales tax already exempts clothing items under $250, food, newspapers, coffins, boats and horse food.

Currently, 10 states of the 45 that collect sales tax exempt these products, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Several countries including Canada have outlawed the tax nationwide.

According to a release from the legislators, if a woman were to purchase one box of tampons for $6.29 (the cost for a 36-pack box of CVS brand tampons) each month for 40 years, she would end up paying about $211 in taxes alone, not counting the cost of the items themselves.