Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NYS Lawmakers Give Final Approval To Bill Removing Tampon Tax

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  New York's Legislature has given its final approval to exempting tampons and other feminine hygiene products from state sales taxes. 

A spokesman says Gov. Andrew Cuomo will sign it into law. It will take effect in the subsequent sales tax quarter. 

It exempts tampons, sanitary napkins and panty liners from the 4 percent state sales tax. 

Assembly member Linda Rosenthal, a Manhattan Democrat and sponsor, says the bill isn't limited to those items and would also exempt future menstrual products. 

She says it's a sexist tax, that other medical necessities like bandages, medicine and even condoms are exempt. 

New York has more than 10 million women of child-bearing age. Sen. Sue Serino, a Hudson Valley Republican and sponsor, says repeal of the out-of-touch tax has been decades in the making.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.