On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate considered a bill that would exempt infant formula, diapers, and certain other baby and menstrual products from sales and use taxes. SB62 is sponsored by State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur).

“Under current law, there are various exemptions and exclusions that apply to state sales and use taxes. “exempt from tax and use tax,'' the bill states.

“This is a good idea,” said state Sen. Roger Smitherman (D-Birmingham). “I think you're trying to do something good.”

“I thought this was already being done, especially for infant formula,” Orr said.

Orr, who chairs the powerful Senate Finance, Taxation and Education Committee, said he attended the legislative session and saw states exempt these products from sales tax. Alabama didn't, so Orr decided to introduce it as a bill.

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Smitherman spent much of his time filibustering on Tuesday over bills he opposes, including a divisive concepts bill and a literacy bill that would require third-graders to read at a third-grade level or force third-graders to repeat a grade. I was forced to do so. He also expressed concern that the Republican bill would move faster than the bill proposed by Democrats.

“Thank you for your bill,” Smitherman said. “The young lady downstairs has a bill, Rolanda (state Rep. Rolanda Hollis (D-Birmingham)), and she can't move it. was.”

“I'm concerned there are good bills out there,” but those aren't being considered, Smitherman said.

Mr. Orr said he did not know about Mr. Hollis' bill several years ago.

“It would cost about $8 million to the ETF (Education Trust Fund) and $2 million to the general fund,” Orr said of the bill's cost.

Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) had introduced a bipartisan bill amendment to the committee that would maintain the sales and use taxes that local governments impose on baby products. The amendment was adopted by the committee despite Orr's reluctance.

“I understand the amendment,” Orr said, offering to take over the bill through Smitherman's filibuster.

“I hope it stays that way,” Smitherman said. “I don't want to go there.”

“We can carry it over and deal with it another day,” Orr offered.

“This has nothing to do with this bill,” Smitherman said. “This is a good bill to debate and a great way to discuss how we are helping people.”

“For me, this was a moral issue,” Orr said. “I understand that people are different. Locals should do what locals do.”

Smitherman went on a rant about the Divisive Concepts Act — which he called the Race Theory Criticism Act. “There's nothing right about that.”

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Smitherman said he would vote yes on SB62 if it comes to a vote.

“My vote is yes in addition to the yes for this here,” Smitherman said. “They need help with that, so I'll tell you something else related to this so that their bodies can prepare for it. What's going to happen with this, where are we with this microphone? , and depending on how the session goes, we may have a chance to get through.'' “I'm currently working on legislation to establish the most efficient way to provide women with prenatal care for their babies and their unborn babies.'' We are working on it.”

“We are in the top five in the nation for infant mortality, and we are in the top group for women as well, because we don't have enough prenatal care. There's nothing to do. Now we're talking about a lottery coming up. No one has ever heard of funding to increase prenatal care so that neither women nor babies die. there is not.”

Mr. Smitherman expressed support for the Gudger amendment.

“Our city is struggling,” Smitherman said. “We are telling them that the resources they have are currently limited and we are going to take more of your resources. But we still have to serve our employees. So in that respect and in that it doesn't hinder them, this is a good bill.”

Smitherman was a member at large in the Alabama Senate in 2010, when Democrats last controlled the state Senate.

“When we were in charge, there was an unspoken rule we followed, which was that for every penny we gave people a break, we earned a competing return. We did it,” Smitherman said. “Up until 2010, when I was here, we had never made it through the cut here, and we couldn't show that we made up for it here.”

“I think passing the rolling reserve has helped balance things out,” Orr said. “I started feeling comfortable two years ago.'' “I was a little worried about the grocery tax, and I still am a little worried. , the lower amounts of $8 million and $2 million are manageable amounts if you can give money back to the people. If it was $80 million or something like that, I'd start to feel a little bad about it. .”

said Senate President Pro Tem Reed (R-Jasper). But at the moment, I think the members have other things they want to do. Therefore, I intend to submit a motion to adjourn the meeting until 2:30 tomorrow, February 21st. ”

When the Senate returns Wednesday, it will likely take up SB62, the custom calendar that contained the bill and failed to introduce it Tuesday.

Items exempt from state sales tax include baby bottles, baby formula, wipes, breast pumps, breast pumps, diapers, maternity clothing, sanitary napkins, panty liners, menstrual sponges, and menstrual cups (including disposable and washable types). included. of these items.

This tax cut will impact thousands of households across Alabama, and the sales tax cut for feminine hygiene products will impact an estimated more than 2 million Alabama women and girls.

The Senate met with Sen. Smitherman for two hours on Tuesday, using most of that time to express his various concerns.

The Senate also passed a resolution honoring the late Sen. Jack Biddle (R-Gardendale), who passed away Sunday.

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