State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) introduced a bill in the Alabama Senate after previous discussion at the end of last year that would make certain baby, maternity, and feminine products exempt from state and local sales tax.
SB62, now advancing through the legislature in 2024, would exempt a variety of items from the state sales tax to include the following product categories:
- Baby Bottles
- Baby Formula
- Baby Wipes
- Milk pumping and storing products
- Diapers
- Maternity clothing
- Menstrual Hygiene products
In the Senate Education Trust Fund committee on Wednesday, State Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) proposed an amendment to only exempt the state tax, not the local portion. That amendment passed the committee 9-4, despite disagreement from Sen. Orr.
“I think it’s a great bill, we should have done this a long time ago. Thank you for thinking of it and bringing it,” Sen. Gudger said during his amendment proposal.
With the amendment, Senators on the committee gave the bill a unanimous favorable report, 15-0, sending it to a vote of the full chamber.
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State Sen. Vivian Figures (R-Mobile) said she’s supported the idea of removing the state tax on baby, maternity and feminine products for a long time.
“And let me just remind everybody, for those of you who haven’t been here, but I have been pushing this issue in this amendment for everything that comes before us where there was a vote for taking the sales tax off for 27 years,” Figures said.
State Sen. Greg Albritton, who did not co-sponsor the bill, said he did not do so because he believes it will be detrimental to the general fund.
“This is going to require two and a half million now with the governor’s budget, and I gotta adjust the estimates and such downward to reflect that. I just hope that looking at the sponsor and co sponsors on this as they when we receive the particular bill that may enhance general fund and ETF revenues that we have the same folks is willing to cut the taxation and reduce revenues to the state that you have the foresight to vote for the enhancement bill that may be coming our way,” Albritton said.
The tax exemption would become effective on October 1st, 2024 if passed by both chamber and signed by Governor Ivey.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
