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Battling the Pink Tax in Wisconsin

Posted on Feb 12, 2026

On February 3, 2026 the Women’s Fund and The Monthlies Project joined Rep. Lee Snodgrass at a press conference to introduce a bipartisan bill to end the 5% tax on menstrual products in Wisconsin. This co-authored bill was written by Rep. Lee Snodgrass, Rep. Robyn Vining, and Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara.

Sen. Cabral-Guevara who had a prior commitment shared, “Taxing menstrual products is a direct tax on being a woman. These items are essential, not optional, and it is time our tax code reflects that reality. By eliminating this ‘Pink Tax,’ we are standing up for fairness and delivering real relief to Wisconsin families. I look forward to seeing this bipartisan effort cross the finish line.”

Wisconsin is one of 18 states that still tax menstrual products, which is known as the ‘Pink Tax’ as it is a tax that is specific and discriminatory to women, especially because these products are not optional, but essential for health, hygiene and quality of life. Rep. Snodgrass shared that 32 other states have successfully signed bills into law to illuminate the unfair, regressive and discriminatory tax on these products.

Snodgrass says the tax puts an unnecessary cost on those who rely on them every month, and these products are not a luxury. Ending the tax on menstrual collection products like tampons, pads, period underwear and menstrual cups has garnered bipartisan support across the country.

“The selection of products is not optional; they are essential for health and hygiene and quality of life.”

Wisconsin already has tax exemptions for other necessary items such as food, water, medicine, medical supplies, and more. Adding menstrual products to list would take away the $5,000-$9,000 tax a woman pays in her lifetime on necessary products.

Our Executive Director Julie Keller represented the Women’s Fund and The Monthlies Project shared how the tax on menstrual products disproportionately affects low-income women as more than 11% of women in Wisconsin live in poverty.

Even a 5% tax can be the difference between having what you need and going without it.

The Monthlies Project, a community initiative that the Women’s Fund is a part of provides menstrual health products to school-aged students and brings awareness to the issue of period poverty and the educational inequity it creates. Since its founding in 2022, The Monthlies Project has distributed more than one million products to over 160 schools and organizations in Northeast Wisconsin.

One of the first partners of The Monthlies Project was the Appleton Area School District. Julie Bargholtz, Coordinator of Family and Community Engagement for Appleton Area School District shared that “Many of our families cannot afford the products due to the high cost, so it helps our students break down some of these barriers. They are able to come to school knowing that they have access to the products, and it prevents them from leaving school and not coming back.”

All schools in AASD have access to order products for students, whether they’re in the bathroom or with the school nurse, having these products in the schools prevents them from leaving school due to having their period.

Removing the tax send a clear message that menstrual products are necessities, not luxury items. Dignity should not have a price tag and when we remove barriers like this, we help women and girls fully participate in school, at work, and in their communities. – Julie Keller

The bill now heads to Madison for a full reading at the committee level, before it gets voted on to move through the legislature. If you are interested in learning more about period poverty or taking action to end the pink tax visit https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/ To learn about The Monthlies Project visit https://monthliesproject.com/.

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