Mississippi House Bill HB1333

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/23
• Refer: 1/16/23
• Failed: 2/22/23

Caption

Sales tax; exempt sales of feminine hygiene products.

Impact

If implemented, HB 1333 will directly affect the state's revenue collection as it removes a source of tax income on feminine hygiene products. Supporters of the bill assert that this measure will not only provide financial relief for consumers, particularly low-income women, but also aligns with broader public health goals. On the flip side, there may be concerns regarding the loss of tax revenue, which could impact public services if not adequately compensated through other tax adjustments or budgetary reallocations.

Summary

House Bill 1333 proposes an amendment to Section 27-65-111 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 that aims to exempt sales of feminine hygiene products from sales taxation. The intent behind this bill is to ease the financial burden on individuals who purchase these essential health products, promoting better access to hygiene essentials for women. Such an exemption highlights a growing recognition of the importance of women's health issues and the costs associated with them. The law will come into effect on July 1, 2023, contingent upon its passage through the legislative process.

Contention

Throughout the discussions surrounding HB 1333, some legislators expressed concerns about the precedent it sets for tax exemptions. The contention revolves around whether this legislation might open the floodgates for additional exemptions for various products, potentially complicating the state's tax structure. Additionally, some argue that tax policy should uniformly apply, and special exemptions could lead to inequities in how different demographics contribute to state revenue.