Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar says he supports repealing the state’s ‘tampon tax’

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar says he supports removing the state’s “tampon tax,” a measure that has stalled in the Texas Legislature for six years.

Hegar and Senate Finance Committee Chair Joan Huffman, both Republicans, put out a statement Thursday voicing “strong support” for removing sales tax on feminine hygiene products like pads and tampons.

“Our economy and state revenues are strong, and Texans are grappling with inflation and challenging price increases on everyday goods,” Hegar said in the prepared statement. “These circumstances provide a tremendous opportunity to rectify this issue and exempt these products that represent a critical need for Texas women.”

According to the Alliance for Period Supplies, 23 states and Washington, D.C., exempt period products from sales tax

The comptroller has faced pressure from activist groups to stop collecting sales tax on feminine hygiene products. The Texas Menstrual Equity Coalition argues that pads and tampons should be considered wound care products like bandages and eye patches, which aren’t subject to tax.

Earlier this year, Hegar’s office denied around 40 requests for refunds of the sales tax charged on period products submitted by activists.

Though activists argue the comptroller can choose to classify period products as wound care, and therefore tax exempt, without the Legislature, Hegar’s statement said the effort will require new legislation and Gov. Greg Abbott’s approval.

The next legislative session begins in January 2023.

Hegar’s office estimates the state would lose out on around $28.6 million in revenue over the next two years by eliminating sales tax on period products.

Hegar said this figure is small relative to the state’s overall revenue outlook.

“Texas can absorb this lost revenue easily, but for countless Texas women, this will mean significant savings in their personal budgets over time,” he said.

Texas Rep. Jeff Leach, a Republican who represents parts of Plano, Allen, Richardson and Dallas, said in a tweet that he plans to author legislation to eliminate the tampon tax.

State Rep. Donna Howard, an Austin Democrat, led efforts to repeal the tampon tax in the past three legislative sessions. She tweeted Thursday that she is looking forward to working with Huffman to get the measure passed.

Hegar is running for his third term as comptroller. His challenger, Democrat Janet Dudding, tweeted on Aug. 16, prior to Hegar’s announcement, that she would eliminate taxes on period products if elected.

“Good. Now do diapers and condoms,” Dudding tweeted in response to Hegar’s statement on Thursday.