BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota Senate has killed a bill that would have exempted feminine hygiene products from sales taxes.
The bill had minimal support by the Senate on Wednesday, with only three votes in favor, The Bismarck Tribune (https://bit.ly/2jAB40I ) reported.
“We did not feel it was the right time asking for this exemption, and also the language in this was a bit ambiguous as to what it covers,” said Republican Sen. Scott Meyer, who brought the bill to the floor.
The bill had an estimated loss of $1,037,000 in state general fund revenues for the 2017-19 biennium, and $99,000 in “other funds” had it been approved.
The bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Larry Luick would have exempted tampons and sanitary napkins from sales and use tax. If approved, it would have taken effect in June.
Republican Sen. Judy Lee said this isn’t the first time she has heard of such a bill. She said several constituents have previously pushed for similar legislation.
“My response was that we don’t exempt toilet paper, and we wouldn’t even be being gender-specific in that,” Lee said.
The topic has received national attention in the past year or so, with several states introducing legislation for an exemption.
About 11 states currently have an exemption for feminine hygiene products.
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Information from: Bismarck Tribune, https://www.bismarcktribune.com
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