HB 731, eliminating state sales tax on feminine hygiene products, did not make it beyond Crossover Day and is thus dead for the 2018 Legislative session.
Sponsored by a statewide coalition of women’s groups, spearheaded by Georgia Women (And Those Who Stand With Us) and including the Junior Leagues of Georgia State Public Affairs Committee, this bill sought a remedy for an obvious inequity: women, who are already at an economic disadvantage in our state, are taxed on a product that is a necessity, not a choice, and for which there is no male equivalency. Feminine hygiene products are classified as medical devices by the FDA and our state legislature has given exemptions to similar items in the past.
In a year when we gave big corporations and tobacco users tax reductions, why could this easy fix to an unfair tax on women not be made? At a time when gubernatorial candidates were calling for a sales tax holiday on guns and ammo, who was thinking about the mothers and daughters in our state?
This bill enjoyed strong bipartisan support (4 R and 3 D Original Signers) and much appreciation is due to Rep. Debbie Buckner and Rep. Allen Peake for their leadership on this issue.
Our coalition is absolutely returning to the legislature next year.
Perhaps we need to send some more women to ATL in 2019!
On February 12, 2018 a team from Georgia Women spent the morning at the Capitol “Working the Ropes” for HB 731. At 1:00 pm, the group proceeded to the Tax Reform Subcommittee Meeting of the House Appropriations Committee. Claire Cox (Georgia Women), Adele Stewart (Junior League of Savannah) and Helen Robinson (YWCA – Greater ATL), along with a representative for the Convenience Store Association of Georgia, spoke in support of the bill. No one testified in opposition. Rep. Buckner and Rep. Peake, both members of the subcommittee fought hard for the bill, but opposition was strong. The subcommittee was not allowed to vote on the bill, because, despite Buckner’s requesting it several weeks before, the Fiscal Note that must accompany legislation had not yet been delivered to the Subcommittee Chairman. Buckner received a copy of it (dated February 9, 2018) the next day from Rep. Powell. Following the hearing, our grassroots group was told by subcommittee leadership that we would not get a second hearing and the bill would not be brought to a vote before Crossover Day on February 28th.
Today a group of seven from Georgia Women and Wesleyan College spent the day advocating on behalf of HB731. “Working the Ropes” is a unique experience in that it is the best of our democracy and the worst. Spending the day at the Capitol, calling Representatives out of Chamber to the ropes in the lobby, means constituents have complete and total access to speak with their elected officials regarding an important issue. Officials actually depend on constituents to assist with education on topics of importance. The downside of the experience is watching how many paid lobbyists spend their days working the halls to influence our elected leaders.
Guest Post by Gennie Long, Public Affairs Chair and SPAC Delegate for Junior League of Savannah,
2017-2018
On February 7, 2018, the Junior Leagues of Georgia State Public Affairs Committee (“SPAC”) held their annual Capitol Day at the Georgia State Capitol. Capitol Day for the Junior Leagues of Georgia SPAC included speakers, meetings with the legislators, and even a picture with the Governor.
One of the issues that sparked the most interest with SPAC representatives was HB 731 – Feminine Hygiene Sales Tax Exemption. Adele Stewart, a member of the Junior League of Savannah, presented to SPAC the importance of why this tax exemption should be law and how it could impact the community. Adele shared that menstrual products are classified as medical devices by the FDA and that medical devices in Georgia are excluded from sales taxes. As such, Georgia should include feminine products in the classification of medical devices and exempt such products from sales tax. Adele also explained that feminine hygiene products are exempt from state sales tax in nine states and five states have no sales tax. As a community activist, Adele has personally made it her passion to educate and advocate on this issue and even testified before the Georgia House and Ways Committee the following week regarding HB-731.
In addition, Rep. Debbie Buckner, D-Junction City, presented to SPAC representatives the history of the bill and the process she had gone through to sponsor the bill. During lunch, the various SPAC representatives had the opportunity to speak with their legislators individually and many SPAC representatives shared their support for HB-731 – Feminine Hygiene Sales Tax Exemption.
In the fall of 2017, following a question from a member, leadership at the organization Georgia Women (And Those Who Stand With Us) began meeting with their State House and Senate leadership in pursuit of the elimination of state sales tax from menstrual products in Georgia. Rep. Allen Peake was responsive and immediately agreed to support legislation but suggested a woman Representative should be the bill carrier. In December, we found our champion! Rep. Debbie Buckner enthusiastically took leadership of this bill and headed to Atlanta to gather bipartisan bill sponsorship.
Georgia Women leadership met with Rep. Jay Powell, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and were promised a hearing for the bill. Rep. Buckner worked the bill and the day it was numbered HB731 was a great day!
In a separate movement, Atlanta activist, Reiny Esser, created an online petition to call for the sales tax elimination. Serendipitously, Esser was connected with local leaders in Savannah, Georgia working on period supply issues through Adele Stewart, a Junior League of Savannah member with healthcare experience and advocacy skills. Stewart had reached out to local Savannah Commissioner Tabitha Odell, who asked Savannah’s state representatives to add the elimination of the tax on menstrual hygiene products to the city’s “wish list.”
When news coverage of HB731 reached Stewart and Esser, Stewart immediately contacted Claire Cox, President of Georgia Women and a strong partnership was born!
