Senator Robertson urges sales-tax exemption for menstrual and baby supplies, witnesses cite affordability data
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Summary
Senator Robertson reintroduced a bill to exempt menstrual hygiene and baby-related products from sales tax, saying the change would ease burdens on single parents; Helping Mamas and Georgia Stomp testified that the exemption would have modest fiscal cost but large household benefit.
Senator Robertson presented legislation seeking a sales-tax exemption for menstrual and baby-related products, framing the bill as a targeted affordability measure for single parents and working families.
Rachel Perlis of Georgia Stomp and Jamie Lackey, founder and CEO of Helping Mamas, testified in support. Lackey said Helping Mamas has distributed more than 20,000,000 essential items across the state and that 74% of recipient families are working. “Any relief that they get inside of a system that wasn't designed for success for all Georgia families is really gonna be a big benefit and a big relief,” Lackey said.
Perlis said roughly 32 states have adopted some form of exemption for menstrual or baby products; the change would simply add these items to other existing Georgia exemptions. Committee members asked about the fiscal cost and implementation timeline; the sponsor noted a fiscal note in the packet dated March 2, 2026 and acknowledged more work would be needed before enactment.
Questions from senators focused on which states offer similar relief, how the exemption would change consumer behavior and how the state would estimate revenue loss. No vote was taken in the brief hearing; senators said they would consider the testimony as staff and fiscal analysts produce more detailed estimates.