The bill to eliminate the 4% tax on menstrual products was once again not passed by the state assembly.
Georgia’s legislature has the power to enact a bill that would grant tax exemptions to specific goods deemed essential. This means that certain items such as groceries and prescriptions would be exempted from taxation.
Nabilah Islam Parkes, a state senator, successfully pushed through the bill in the Senate. Had it not been for SB 51, the tax would not have been implemented. However, the bill never came to a vote on the Senate floor. This tax generates an annual revenue of $7 to $9 million, amounting to less than 0.01% of the state budget.
According to the state, food, soda, and Viagra are exempt from state taxes. However, menstrual goods are not exempted, which raises the question of why they should be. Islam Parkes, highlighting the increasing number of women in government, emphasizes the need for this bill to be passed.
According to the National Organization of Women, the average American woman will spend a staggering $18,000 on menstrual goods throughout her lifetime. In addition, the extra 4% tax imposed by GA translates to nearly $1,000 more in expenses.
Sheona Diwakar expressed her motivation to tackle period poverty in her community after completing a class assignment. As a result, she established a charity called Soaring Doves, which aimed to make a difference. Instead of organizing a typical food drive, Sheona decided to hold a cleanliness drive. Through the collective efforts of her friends, she successfully gathered resources to support 10,000 women in need.
“I was faced with a difficult decision: should I sacrifice my groceries or gracefully navigate through the monthly ordeal of not having access to menstrual products?”
According to the Alliance for Period Supplies, poverty affects one in five women and one in eight men. Shockingly, one in three low-income women have had to miss work or school due to the lack of access to period supplies.
“I believe there should be stricter laws in Georgia,” Diwakar expressed. “It is essential to take necessary measures to ensure that everyone has access to what they require.”
Only 21 states still impose taxes on menstrual products, and Georgia remains one of them. It has been stated that the bill will be reintroduced in 2025.
