A box of tampons isn't a splurge. A pack of pads isn't a luxury. Period products are basic necessities—and they should be tax-free.

I'm Hailey Puckett, a women's health nurse practitioner, and I'm calling on state lawmakers to stop taxing the products people need to manage their periods.

As of July 2026, 18 states still charge sales tax on menstrual products. Whether you pay that tax depends on where you live—not whether you need those products.

Nationwide, advocates estimate that roughly $130 million is collected every year in sales tax on period products. That is money people should be able to keep for their own needs, rather than pay in tax on essential period care.

When you're stretching a paycheck, every dollar matters. No one should have to choose between buying period products and putting food on the table. Ending this tax won't eliminate every financial barrier, but it is one concrete step lawmakers can take.

We don't have to start from scratch. Thirty-two states already exempt menstrual products from statewide sales tax or have no statewide sales tax at all. The remaining states should follow that example. In North Carolina, legislation to exempt menstrual products has already been introduced. The solution is on the table; lawmakers need to act.

We call on lawmakers in every state that still taxes menstrual products to pass a permanent sales-tax exemption for tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and other period products.

Basic menstrual care should be affordable, no matter your ZIP code. Your signature adds your voice to that demand.

Sign this petition to tell state lawmakers: Period products are necessities, not luxuries. End the tampon tax everywhere.