SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois lawmakers advanced a measure to exempt feminine hygiene and incontinence products from the state sales tax.
The Senate revenue committee forwarded the bill to the full chamber Wednesday, March 9, 2016, for consideration. No official vote was taken, but one Republican lawmaker suggested the plan be considered for a tax code change instead of a law.
The sponsor of the measure, Grayslake Democratic Sen. Melinda Bush, says tampons and other feminine hygiene products are not a luxury but a necessity.
Bush says the so-called “pink tax” on hygiene items and other women’s products is an example of inequity. Her plan also would eliminate the tax on incontinence products.
Pennsylvania and Minnesota have eliminated taxes on feminine hygiene products. California has seen similar efforts this year to eliminate the tax.
