Tampon Tax Ban Gets Final Approval From NY State Lawmakers
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York's Legislature has given its final approval to exempt tampons and other feminine hygiene products from state sales taxes.
A spokesman says Gov. Andrew Cuomo will sign it into law. It will take effect in the subsequent sales tax quarter.
It exempts tampons, sanitary napkins and panty liners from the 4 percent state sales tax.
Assembly member Linda Rosenthal, a Manhattan Democrat and sponsor, says the bill isn't limited to those items and would also exempt future menstrual products.
She says it's a sexist tax, that other medical necessities like bandages, medicine and even condoms are exempt.
Earlier this year, a group of women filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that a state tax on tampons creates an unfair standard when it comes to defining medical devices that are specifically designed for women.
"Tampons and sanitary pads are a necessity for women, not a luxury. There is no way these products would be taxed if men had to use them," said Zoe Salzman, a lawyer for the women, said in a statement released following the announcement of the suit.
New York has more than 10 million women of child-bearing age.
Sen. Sue Serino, a Hudson Valley Republican and sponsor, says repeal of the out-of-touch tax has been decades in the making.
According to Rosenthal, five other states have similar tax exemptions while five others have no state sales taxes.
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