Louisville Democratic Rep. Attica Scott has filed a pair of bills for the upcoming legislative session that would eliminate the sales tax on menstrual products and baby supplies. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton says similar proposals have failed to get traction in the past.
The proposed exemptions would remove the 6 percent sales tax on tampons, panty liners and other menstrual products as well as diapers, breast pumps and baby bottles.
Scott says the proposals would help poor Kentuckians by eliminating a tax on essential items.
“These products are products that we as women and girls have to have, they’re not optional. If we at least can remove the sales and use tax from those feminine hygiene products we’re making life a little more manageable for women and girls,” Scott said.
Scott filed a similar proposal to exempt menstrual and baby products from the sales tax during the 2018 legislative session, but it never received a hearing.
An official estimate of that bill’s financial impact predicted that the state would have lost about $15 million in tax revenue over two years if it had passed.
