Not sure what to make of the Groundhog's prediction for 6 more weeks of winter? Why not focus on the great stuff happening in the statehouses, regardless of the weather!
The bill in
Arizona to exempt diapers and menstrual products,
HB2217 has been heard by the Health Committee. More details to come!
There will be a hearing before the Ways and Means Committee in
Maryland on
HB345, the proposal to exempt diapers from sales tax. The hearing will be held on February 7 at 1 pm if you are in Annapolis at that time. You can join Alison from NDBN who plans on testifying.
In other sales tax legislative news: The bill in
Kentucky,
HB 236, which would exempt diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene products, baby bottles and breast pumps from the state sales tax has been referred to the Appropriations and Revenue committee. In
Washington,
HB2905 would exempt all diapers from sales tax and was referred to the House Finance Committee. In
Wisconsin,
AB856 would exempt diapers and incontinence garments from sales tax. In
Utah, a new bill, HB 262, the Hygiene Act was introduced. This is the third time Rep. Susan Duckworth has introduced the legislation. A fiscal note has already been entered. Perhaps the third time's the charm! All four of these states are parties to the
Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, and join
Oklahoma as SSUTA states with active legislation to exempt diapers from sales tax.
Florida also has bills in both the house (
H0163) and the senate (
S0236) to exempt diapers from sales tax.
In
Massachusetts, HB 3517,the bill in the House to study possible diaper assistance proposals have been referred to the House Committee on Public Health. Its companion in the Senate, S2075, has been before the Senate Ways and Means Committee since November.
Diaper changing stations is a topic of interest in nine states, which bills active in
Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, Utah and
Washington.
California passed a bill last year.
For a complete list of diaper bills, check out our
diaper tracker
here.
Legislators have been been busy with increasing access to menstrual supplies too.
Georgia and
Iowa join
Arizona, California, Nebraska,Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and
Wisconsin in proposing standalone (without mention of diaper sales tax) bills to exempt menstrual supplies from sales tax introduced this year (technically, Washington's was in 2017, but in December in advance of the current session).
Arizona, Hawaii, Maryland, New York, Virginia and
Wisconsin have proposed bills to provide menstrual supplies in prison, joining an effort in the
U.S. Congress, and
Washington state has bills to provide menstrual supplies in public schools and at community and technical colleges.
And if you are wondering about the state of diaper and tampon tax writ large, check out our recently updated
50 State Sales Tax Survey.
