HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Alabama lawmakers are running out of time to pass a bill that would make items like baby formula and diapers more affordable for parents.
If passed, those things, along with feminine hygiene products, would be exempt from state sales tax.
Alabama is currently one of only 20 states in the country to charge sales tax on these items.
Alabama state representative Neil Rafferty, who introduced the bill, said it’s well past time that Alabama lifts the sales tax on those items, so parents and women can afford important healthcare items.
“It is an unfair tax that only half the population has to pay into,” said Rafferty.
Alabama lawmakers are considering exempting many important health items from the state sales tax rate.
Kathryn Gibson is a Huntsville mother who has four children under the age of five.
She said that if this change is made, it really would help provide her family with some financial flexibility.
“My husband is the sole provider,” said Gibson. ”He works two jobs, but money is tight. So, it’s just frustrating. I take care of the budget, then there’s that sales tax at the end. Everything that I am getting is a necessity for life.”
House Bill 152 would exempt baby formula, baby bottles, baby wipes, breast milk pumping equipment, breast pumps, diapers, maternity clothing, and menstrual hygiene products from sales tax.
“All of that affects moms,” said Candice Duvieil. ”I did the math on it. I think in the last two years, it would have saved my household $40 for every $1000, so maybe $200, which is a significant amount of money, especially if you’re living paycheck to paycheck.”
Rafferty believes the amount of money families will save is worth a potential decrease in tax revenue.
“We also have the sunset provision on there, just so we can watch and see how much money is costing the state versus how much it’s saving families,” said Rafferty.
Victoria Tice is a local doula and a mother of two young children. Tice said it can be hard for a lot of families to pay for baby supplies.
“Parents are struggling, parents who have single-income homes, parents who have double-income homes,” said Tice. ”Diapers and wipes are increasingly expensive. We all know how expensive formula is. This would be taking a huge burden off of all parents.”
Tice said that she is really happy that the state is working to help take the burden off families.
“It’s not just about having babies,” said Tice. ”It is about building a world that actually supports the people who are raising them. This bill is hopefully going to go through, and the fact that it has had unanimous bipartisan support by the state of Alabama so far, it feels like a huge gesture to women.”
Rafferty said he expects the Senate to vote on the bill this week.
It passed the House unanimously back in March.
If the bill is signed into law, it will go into effect on September 1, 2025.
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