An unusual alignment of political interests means Texas is closer than ever to exempting tampons and pads from sales tax.

Driving the news: State Rep. Donna Howard, an Austin Democrat, laid out a bill last week that would exempt from sales tax menstrual products — as well as diapers, wipes, baby bottles and breast-milk pumping products.

• Similar proposals in previous legislative sessions have won little traction in the GOP-controlled Capitol.

What's changed: The U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision last year, which overturned Roe v. Wade.

• The ruling meant abortions in Texas were virtually completely prohibited — and left Republican politicians concerned they would alienate suburban women voters.

Flashback: Last summer, after the Supreme Court decision, top Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott, said they supported exempting menstrual products from sales tax.

• House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, last month listed the exemption of feminine hygiene products and diapers from sales taxes as one of his priorities.

What they're saying: "There was recognition that there needs to be some movement that is supportive of women," Howard tells Axios.

Between the lines: In arguing for the measure this week, Howard also pointed out the record budget surplus — $32.7 billion — lawmakers have at their disposal.

By the numbers: The comptroller's office estimates that sales tax on menstrual products generates about $28.6 million annually.

• The average cost of menstrual products is about $20 per cycle, the National Organization for Women estimated in 2021.

Zoom in: The City of Dallas offers free period products at libraries, community centers and recreational centers for people who can't afford them.

The politics of the tampon tax

North Texas has dozens of sculptures memorializing historically significant people, but few of them are of women.

The big picture: It's easier in the U.S. to find a sculpture of a mermaid than of any American-born woman who actually is part of this world, reports Axios' Chelsea Brasted.

• Monument Lab, a nonprofit that in 2021 counted who and what Americans honor in their public art, found 22 sculptures of mermaids and just 21 honoring abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

Driving the news: For Women's History Month, we looked into whether American monuments depict women.

• The answer: Not really.

Zoom in: In North Texas, there are sculptures representing Lady Justice or religious figures, including the goddess Nike at Texas Woman's University.

• Denton has the most, mostly at the university, including the Pioneer Woman, which represents the spirit of the women who helped found Texas.
• A few art pieces at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and Dallas museums depict women — usually in figure form — but they aren't monuments to anyone in particular.

Of note: The Betty Jane Blazier Memorial in Denton isn't a statue of the woman. Instead, it is a play structure in memory of the TWU instructor, who specialized in nursery education.

Zoom out: Statues of women are often allegorical or fictional characters, such as Little Nell alongside Charles Dickens in Philadelphia or Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" in Chicago.

• Just 6% of American monuments feature real women as their subjects, research shows.

The bottom line: Of the top 50 historical figures represented in Monument Lab data, only three are women and only five are Black or Indigenous. Half are people who enslaved others.

Go deeper with Monument Lab's interactive map

There's plenty going on this week if your kids are on spring break and need to be kept occupied.

🏀 Ball out. The Mavs have three games this week, including an at-home matchup with the Grizzlies tonight.

🤔 Teach 'em a lesson. Our local museums cover human rights, African American history, aviation, science and nature, history, art, and JFK history — but check which days they're open before going.

🎨 Be artsy. The Nasher Sculpture Center has free admission and family-friendly programming from 11am-4pm Wednesday to Sunday.

• 'Til Midnight at the Nasher is also on Friday.

⛲ Walk in the park. Klyde Warren Park's opulent water feature puts on a show at select hours every day, and you can rent out games to play as a family. Check out more events happening this week.

📚 Read for fun. North Texas has some amazing public libraries worthy of a visit any time of year.

⚖️ Three women are facing a lawsuit for wrongful death after a man accused them of helping his now ex-wife obtain medication for an abortion. (Axios)

🚔 A 30-year-old man was arrested after a Dallas shooting that killed an 11-year-old boy and injured a woman early Saturday morning. (FOX4)

🏆 Lake Highlands High School beat Beaumont United 55-44 to win the 6A state basketball championship, the school's first basketball title in 55 years. (DMN)

🏫 Grand Prairie ISD sent a letter to district parents explaining that one of their now-former teachers has been arrested following accusations of an "improper" relationship with a student. (WFAA)

💼 Check out who's hiring around the city.

1. Sr. Project Lead at Neiman Marcus.
2. Veterinary Hospital Manager at Buckeye Animal Clinic.
3. Media Manager at Daisy Brands.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

Last week, we asked Axios Dallas readers to weigh in on daylight saving time, and there were some mixed opinions about springing forward and falling back every year.

State of play: Many of you love DST and want it year-round.

• And Michael H. would like to figure out a way for it to not still be dark until 8am in the winter.
• But Susan R. says she's ready for DST to end. "Its time has come," she says.

The intrigue: Some of you even explained the science behind your opinion.

• Greg H. describes DST as "self-induced jet lag."
• Robert M. reminds us that DST extends daylight hours in the hottest part of the day and could strain our supply-constrained electric grid.

Of note: Axios Dallas reader David M. says time zones should be set so solar noon occurs between 11:30am and 12:30pm every day.

• This led us down a rabbit hole to understand what solar noon even is.