AUGUSTA - Rep. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, introduced a bill to update Maine's sales tax exemption list for grocery staples on Thursday.
In Maine, like other states, the Legislature provides sales tax exemptions for items deemed as necessities, with the intention to prevent low-income consumers from being taxed on items they must buy. LD 1335 adds toilet paper, diapers and menstrual products to the list and tasks Maine Revenue Service (MRS) with identifying items that should not receive the exemption.
"Exempting these items is a matter of tax fairness and health equity," said Tepler. "Toilet paper, diapers and menstrual products are absolutely necessary items that no individual should ever struggle to afford. I have been working to remove the sales tax on some of these products for over six years. It is long overdue that MRS evaluates our current exemption policy to identify and remove less necessary items."
The bill gives MRS until the second regular session of the 130th Legislature to determine which products should not receive a tax exemption. The legislation also requires MRS to report that list to the Taxation Committee for review and to ensure there is an approximate amount of savings to enable toilet paper, menstrual products and diapers to be tax-free.
The committee will hold a work session on the bill in the coming weeks. Maine residents who would like to weigh in on the policy can still submit written testimony to the Taxation Committee through this portal.
Tepler is serving her fourth term in the Maine Legislature and serves as the House chair of the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Affairs Committee.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Tepler], c. 812-1111