Laws to exempt interval merchandise and diapers from gross sales taxes cleared its final vote on Monday, shifting ahead to Gov. Jared Polis for last consideration.
If signed into regulation, Home Invoice 1055 would broaden gross sales tax exemptions for the merchandise — together with tampons, pads, menstrual cups, sponges, sanitary napkins and panty liners — and for grownup and youth diapers beginning subsequent yr.
“Each Coloradan deserves to stay with dignity, however for much too many, their incapability to pay for primary human wants like interval merchandise and diapers means they will’t,” mentioned invoice sponsor Sen. Religion Winter, D-Westminster. “We’re eradicating the tax on dignity whereas guaranteeing that Coloradans can get monetary savings on important objects.”
Nationally, one in 4 youngsters reported lacking faculty as a result of they didn’t have entry to interval merchandise, in keeping with a 2019 research commissioned by Thinx and PERIOD. Earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, one in three American households couldn’t afford wanted diapers, mentioned the infant gear nonprofit WeeCycle.
The state Senate authorised the invoice in a 26-9 vote Monday and the Home handed it in March, 50-13. In each chambers, Republican lawmakers voted towards the invoice.
The opponents within the Senate didn’t clarify their “no” votes, however within the Home, many mentioned the invoice would not go far sufficient to save lots of households cash and that it must also present tax exemptions for child system.
The invoice obtained substantial bipartisan help. On Monday, Sen. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, praised the invoice’s inclusion of grownup diapers within the tax exemption.
“It additionally covers Relies upon and such, so there’s a sure a part of the aisle that this invoice may quickly assist,” Priola mentioned. “So, I might hope this may be a bipartisan ‘sure.’”
Colorado households spend a mean of $15 per 30 days on interval merchandise per member of the family who wants them, in keeping with the Girls’s Basis of Colorado. For diapers, households spend roughly $75 per 30 days per little one. If the gross sales tax exemption was applied, the state estimates it could save Colorado shoppers roughly $9.1 million yearly.
Different merchandise at present exempt from gross sales tax in Colorado are unprepared meals, corrective eyeglasses, contact lenses, listening to aids and medicines, together with Viagra.
