A.G. Gancarski
Senate legislation is finally on the move that, if passed, would provide tax breaks for incontinence products, such as diapers, pads, and liners.
The bill (SB 54), filed by Plantation Democrat Sen. Lauren Book, is up Tuesday morning in its first of three committees of reference.
Commerce and Tourism will mull exempting purchases of “diapers, incontinence undergarments, incontinence pads, or incontinence liners” from Florida’s 6% sales tax.
If the bill sounds familiar, that’s because it made progress in the Senate last year.
In 2019, Book’s bill was approved unanimously by the Commerce and Tourism Committee as well as the Finance and Tax Committee. But it died in Appropriations.
With the Session at its midpoint and several contentious issues ahead before Sine Die, it may be challenging to get through all three committees.
A companion bill in the House from Rep. Amy Mercado in 2019 was less successful.
It failed to advance through a single committee.
In a case of diaper déjà vu, Mercado is carrying the same legislation (HB 87) again this year … and thus far, it has failed to be noticed for a committee hearing.
“The legislation will provide tax cuts for those in our state who need it most: Florida families,” Book told Florida Politics upon introducing the legislation last year.
“For some families, this is just another piece of their monthly budget. But for others, the cost of diapers can present impossible choices: Should we pay the electric bill or buy diapers?”
While Book presents the legislation as a way to help poor parents and incontinence sufferers alike, states that have instituted such tax breaks don’t see them as a holy grail.
In California, where these tax breaks finally became part of the budget, the Los Angeles Times decried the tax breaks as gimmicks.
“But piecemeal carve-outs in the state’s already convoluted sales tax scheme are irresponsible, not to mention an inefficient way to help people who are struggling to get by,” the editorial board chided.
Should the legislation be approved, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2021.
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Material from Florida Politics’ Ryan Nicol was used in this post.
2 comments
Cogent Observer
February 10, 2020 at 6:50 am
I dislike taxation as much as anyone–however, it is imposed upon everyone.
This proposal is as moronic now as it was last year. Quite simply, if people cannot afford the sales tax on diapers, they should refrain from having children. Is the cost of the diapers themselves affordable but for the sales tax? If not, should diapers be supplied by the public to those who profess not to be able to afford them–or would it be better for them not to have children? That’s not a hard one. Likewise, do the pennies in sales tax on the diapers make them unaffordable? That makes no sense.
As to the elderly requiring incontinence products, unless they will be given without charge, the de minimus sales tax is inconsequential. No one misses a meal, especially with existing public services, because of paying sales tax on adult diapers.
Come on, Ms. Book. Look beyond the issues of minimal import and earn what you are paid. For a change.
Parenting Passage
February 11, 2020 at 8:01 am
This is a good move. Thanks for sharing the news.
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