Senate approves Sen. Gallo bill to exempt breast pumps, supplies from sales tax

STATE HOUSE – Breast pumps and related supplies will be exempt from the state sales tax under legislation sponsored by Sen. Hanna Gallo and unanimously passed by the Senate today. The measure has also been included in the amended state budget bill that is currently before legislators.

The exemption is intended to recognize the necessity of the equipment, which enables nursing mothers to extract and store breast milk for their infants.

“Particularly at this moment, when nationwide shortages are making it extremely difficult for parents and caregivers to access formula for infants, we as a state should not be placing any kind of roadblock in the way of feeding babies. We don’t tax food because it’s a necessity, and breast pumps are a necessity for providing food to many babies. I’m very proud to stand behind this bill to lighten the load a bit for new parents and support anyone’s efforts to breastfeed. There are many challenges to breastfeeding, but by eliminating the sales tax on pumps and the products that are needed for them, our state will make sure we aren’t contributing to the costs,” said Senator Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick). 

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, which will take up the proposal Thursday as part of the state budget.