I Helped Eliminate Boulder County’s Tampon Tax
All it took was lived experience and determination, not budget or political credentials
Aspen Rawson (they/them) is the 2026 policy and advocacy intern for The Women’s Foundation of Colorado and a student at University of Colorado Boulder.
Local policy, real consequences
For most of us, the difference between state policy and a county ordinance feels abstract. But when you’ve had to use a wad of toilet paper because tampons are too expensive, those policy gaps become painfully real.
In 2022, Colorado eliminated the state sales tax on menstrual and incontinence products—including pads, tampons, and diapers—thanks to advocacy by The Women’s Foundation of Colorado and other members of the Don’t Tax Dignity coalition. But most cities and counties did not automatically adopt the same exemptions. That’s when I learned an essential truth: equity doesn’t end with statewide policy. It has to be completed locally.
Discovering the tampon tax gap—and my role in closing it
In October 2024, I was sitting in my Intro to U.S. Women and Gender Studies class when my professor asked us to look up information about the “tampon tax.” Most articles celebrated Colorado’s state-level win. But at the bottom of the page, I found a Colorado Sun article highlighting what no one else was talking about: each city and county still had to pass its own exemption—and most hadn’t.
At first, the wind was taken out of my sails. Then I realized something else: this was a problem I could help solve.
Period poverty is not theoretical
As a formerly homeless teenager, I understood period poverty firsthand. If I was lucky, a coworker had a tampon I could use. The embarrassment and discomfort of not being able to afford basic self-care products made one thing clear: policies that support dignity are essential to real equality.
Eliminating sales tax on period products won’t lift someone out of poverty. But it does reduce barriers, increase access, and send a powerful message that women’s dignity matters.
Why local exemptions matter
Lack of access to period products can keep people from going to school or work, limiting economic mobility. While the state exemption saves individuals about $40 a year, city and county exemptions multiply those savings. For organizations that purchase in bulk—like schools and shelters—the savings can reach hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
This is why local implementation matters. Cities and counties are where policy becomes reality.
As I learned more about local politics, I realized how much power city and county leaders hold. They manage large budgets, make decisions that shape daily life, and—most importantly—are far more accessible than state or national officials. Local governments are also responsible for implementing statewide policies, meaning they determine how those policies actually affect residents.
I knew one voice mattered—but I also knew change would take more than just mine.
Fifteen people, one clear ask
I began talking with friends and classmates at CU Boulder. While the City of Boulder had already exempted period products from local sales tax, Boulder County had not. I knew we could build enough community pressure to change that—and that local advocacy requires far fewer people than statewide efforts.
Within weeks, we formed QuAC, a Queer Activist Collective. Period poverty disproportionately impacts queer and gender-diverse people, and we wanted to show up as a marginalized group advocating for policies that benefit everyone. We were small—about 15 people—but in local politics, small groups can make big change.
Advocacy without a budget is actually doable
We didn’t have money or formal political credentials—just lived experience and determination. After discussing several options, we decided to run a coordinated email campaign to our county commissioners. I drafted a sample email, shared it with the group, and over the next few weeks, we each sent multiple messages.
That was it. No lobbyists. No fundraising. Just constituents reaching out.
Within a month, the Boulder County Board of Commissioners responded. They agreed the exemption was important and committed to implementing it by January 1, 2026. Fifteen people emailing was enough to get the county to act.
Months later, when we hadn’t heard updates, we showed up during public comment at a budget meeting. The county confirmed they were actively working on the exemption and would meet their deadline.
Proof that community power works
The exemption went into effect on January 1 and is already supporting the community.
We often focus on state and national politics—big policies with sweeping impacts—but overlook the cities and counties responsible for carrying them out. In Boulder County, 15 residents helped turn a state policy into real, lived equity.
This win wasn’t just about period products. It was about community power. It showed that you don’t need hundreds of people to make change—just enough to notice a gap and decide to close it.
