Period Law Strategy Fund

THIS YEAR'S CRUCIAL CAUSE INVOLVES THE 21 STATES THAT CONTINUE THE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE OF CHARGING SALES TAX ON MEDICALLY NECESSARY CLASS I AND CLASS II MEDICAL DEVICES USED BY MENSTRUATORS TO COLLECT THEIR MONTHLY DISCHARGE. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS LIES IN FORGING CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL ADVOCATES, ORGANIZATIONS, ATTORNEYS, AND POLICYMAKERS WITHIN THESE 21 STATES. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS, CLASSIFIED AS CLASS I AND CLASS II MEDICAL DEVICES, SHOULD NOT BE BURDENED BY SALES TAX. THESE ESSENTIAL ITEMS ARE NOT A LUXURY; THEY ARE A NECESSITY FOR HALF OF OUR POPULATION.THROUGH RELENTLESS EFFORTS AND COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL ADVOCATES AND POLICYMAKERS, PERIOD LAW PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN CONVINCING TEXAS LEGISLATORS TO REPEAL THE SALES TAX ON MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS. OUR WORK WAS PART OF A COLLECTIVE EFFORT WHERE PASSIONATE ADVOCATES CAME TOGETHER AND MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD. TOGETHER, WE PROVED THAT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE UNITE FOR A COMMON CAUSE.

PERIOD LAW AND THE PERIOD LAW STRATEGY FUND TEAM HAVE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH KEY ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE IN THE WAY MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS ARE CATEGORIZED. WE HAVE MET WITH AND PRESENTED TO THE STREAMLINED SALES TAX GOVERNING BOARD, URGING THEM TO RENAME THESE PRODUCTS FROM "FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS" TO "MENSTRUAL DISCHARGE COLLECTION DEVICES." OUR EFFORTS HAVE RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR THIS NAME CHANGE.ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION TASK FORCE (SALT) OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATORS. SALT MEMBERS ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING BOTH THE PROPOSED NAME CHANGE AND AN EXPANDED DEFINITION FOR THESE PRODUCTS. WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE MULTISTATE TAX COMMISSION, AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL STATE TAX AGENCY, TO PRESENT OUR CASE FOR RENAMING MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS.BY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THESE CONFERENCES AND SHARING EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL AND RESEARCH, WE ARE STRIVING TO CHALLENGE SOCIETAL STIGMA AND BUILD A COMPELLING CASE FOR TAX EXEMPTION ON THESE ESSENTIAL MEDICAL DEVICES. PUBLIC SUPPORT STRENGTHENS OUR CAUSE, AND TOGETHER, WE ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT STRIDES TOWARD A FAIRER FUTURE.