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Bill to exempt vitamins and supplements from state tax draws support and questions over definition and SNAP impact
Summary
Representative Crist's bill to exempt dietary and nutritional supplements from state tax drew support from industry and medical groups but prompted committee questions about how "dietary and nutritional supplements" would be defined and whether the change could affect SNAP benefits; the fiscal note was discussed.
Representative Crist (House District 96) presented House Bill 1107, saying the bill would remove state taxes on health-related products such as vitamins and nutritional supplements to improve access and affordability. "It shouldn't be cheaper to buy a Snickers bar than a healthy protein bar," the sponsor said, arguing the change would particularly help elderly and immunocompromised Missourians and lower-income households.
Witnesses supporting the bill included Chris Schumann, a registered lobbyist for FirstForm, who described the sponsor's intent and said proponents envisioned limiting the exemption to FDA-approved products such as vitamins, minerals, protein powders and fish oils. Sarah Schleiner, representing the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told the committee prenatal vitamins would be eligible and noted many patients who are prescribed vitamins already receive sales-tax exemption via a health-provider order; she said that could reduce the net fiscal exposure in practice.
Committee members asked about definitions and a potential interaction with federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility. Representative Strickler drew attention to a line in the fiscal note that said modifying the definition of food could affect state SNAP participation and deferred to Department of Revenue and the Department of Social Services for that fiscal determination. The sponsor and proponents said they would work to clarify statutory definitions and to confirm that the change would not jeopardize SNAP benefits; the committee did not take a vote at the hearing.
Supporters asked that the committee refine statutory definitions to limit the exemption to products intended to supplement dietary needs and to work with DSS on SNAP-related language.
