LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected a proposed ballot on Monday that would exempt feminine hygiene products from sales and use tax because of language in the ballot.

The Act to Exempt Feminine Hygiene Products from Sales and Use Tax was introduced on Sept. 11.

Griffin reviewed the proposed measure and determined the language was “ambiguous because it fails to address whether the measure would remove Arkansas from compliance with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement.”

The ballot defined “feminine hygiene products” as tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, sanitary napkins and other similar tangible personal property designed for feminine hygiene in
connection with the human menstrual cycle. But the Attorney General’s Office said the language was unclear on “grooming and hygiene products” which is part of the Streamline Agreement.

The text was “unable to ensure your popular name and ballot title adequately summarized the proposal,” the opinion stated.

The Attorney General’s Office suggests that the group efforting the tax exemption should redesign the proposed measure, popular name and ballot title.

This rejection hinders the ballot from being on the November 2024 ballot.

Arkansans spend $3 million on tampon tax every year according to Founder of Arkansas Period Poverty Project, Katie Clark. 

Over the past several months, the Arkansas Period Poverty Project has been working closely with local lawyer David Couch to draft a ballot measure that would remove the sales and use tax on period products. The group cares deeply about this initiative because every year Arkansans spend almost 3 million dollars on the tax on period products alone. The tampon tax only accounts for .01% of the state’s total revenue, but is a much larger burden on everyday Arkansas families. The group wants to remove the tax on period products to make them more accessible to Arkansans. The ballot measure proposal was sent to the Attorney General’s office on Monday, September 11. On Monday, September 25, the Attorney General’s office provided feedback on the proposal. The proposal was rejected because it did not specify that other grooming and hygiene products would not be included in the measure. We are more than happy to make any necessary changes to get the approval of the Attorney General on this ballot measure so we can start collecting signatures.”

said Katie Clark in a statement to KNWA/FOX24.