HB 300 offers tax credits in Texas for baby and menstrual products.

Austin, Texas – In Texas grocery stores, staple foods and some medicines are tax-free.

The sales tax exemption will be expanded to include products for children and menstruation, in line with a bill filed on Thursday by State Representative Donna Howard, D-Austin.

“You won’t necessarily notice that feminine hygiene products and diapers are not tax exempt and that you actually pay a set of taxes on these things. which is a necessity,” Rep. Howard said.

HB 300 amends Section 151 of the State Internal Revenue Code, which currently covers baby food and formula under the food tax credit. New proposed additions include baby products such as diapers, wipes, breast pumps and baby bottles, as well as menstrual hygiene products such as tampons, sanitary napkins and pads.

MORE TEXAS LEGAL NEWS

People who have spoken to FOX 7 Austin support the extension.

“You can’t do without it, babies can’t have diapers, and women definitely need feminine hygiene products,” said Hope Biba.

“If men need feminine hygiene products, I bet it will pass very quickly,” said Beth Ferguson.

“Just giving a break where we can, especially when inflation has made everything so much more expensive, things that we can do without, is great,” said Keri Burns.

Maternity wear was a late addition to Howard’s bill, which came as a surprise.

“That was what the Speaker really said, and I applaud him for thinking about it, because it’s obvious that body changes require a different set of clothes. That’s how it works,” Howard said. “And you need something to wear to go to work, to school, no matter where you are. And frankly, the sales tax on those products is likely to be much higher.”

The HB 300 is part of a four-point priority list announced by Speaker of the House Dade Phelan, all of which are considered family-friendly offerings.

“It really adds up. And when you live on the edge, in particular, those pennies can add up to a year, you know, I don’t know, at least $100, $100 may not sound like it to some people, but it’s a lot for people who live paycheck to paycheck,” Rep. Howard said.

READ MORE

Political scientist Brian Smith of St. Edwards University described the plan as simple.

“Texas is not balancing its budget on diapers. We are an oil and gas state, we are a state of real consumption. So it’s not a problem in the sense that it’s a problem that will affect everyone on both sides, and that’s what hits families the most. So you will get broad bipartisan support on this issue,” Smith said.

Smith expects the speaker’s priority list to grow and these additions will not be as Democrat-friendly.

“It certainly sets the stage for more difficult issues and consensus building now because he knows that going forward you will need the support of your entire caucus and you may also need the support of the Democrats. So the more consensus you can reach early, the better off you will be when there are more difficult issues that the speaker says the state will need to address,” Smith said.

What Smith says can be difficult is how to split the budget surplus and increase school funding. The speaker’s strategy, Smith said, could even influence the upcoming debate on thorny social issues that Republicans hope to pass.