Diaper, Tampon Tax Bills Move Ahead In Florida Senate

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Keeping intimate parts clean and dry may soon cost Floridians a little bit less at the cash register. Two bills meant to eliminate sales taxes on some personal hygiene products both moved forward in the Florida Senate this week.

The first bill is a measure that would eliminate sales taxes on diapers and incontinence products. That bill made it past the Senate’s Commerce and Tourism Committee with flying colors Tuesday. The measure, pitched by Broward County’s Sen. Lauren Book, received unanimous support from the committee with a 7-0 vote. The bill is now under review by another Senate committee.

If approved, the measure would eliminate sales taxes charged on diapering and incontinence products starting on Jan. 1, 2018.

The state hasn’t crunched the numbers just yet to determine how much of a financial impact the measure might have. It did however review a similar proposal for “diapers and baby wipes.” Based on that analysis, the state says Book’s proposal would have a recurring financial impact of about “$40 million after removing baby wipes from the sales tax exemption.”

As the “diaper bill" makes its way through the Senate, another similar bill is under consideration. Senate Bill 176 seeks to eliminate sales taxes on feminine hygiene products. That bill would provide tax-free sales of such items as tampons, feminine napkins and panty liners. It too witnessed forward momentum in the Senate this week. The bill cleared the appropriations subcommittee on finance and tax with a 5-0 vote on Wednesday, Feb. 22, according to Senate records.

Should the tampon tax bill make it through the Senate and House and receive Gov. Rick Scott’s signature, it would also go into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. That measure would reduce state general revenue by an estimated $8.9 million a year and local revenues by $2.3 million on a recurring basis, a state analysis said.

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