JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Bills to Save Coloradans Money on Hygiene Products, Improve Access to Affordable Food and Groceries

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed three bills into law that will help families thrive by cutting sales taxes on essential hygiene products, increasing access to critical services, and lowering the cost of food and groceries for low-income households.

HB22-1055, sponsored by Representative Susan Lontine and Leslie Herod as well as Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Faith Winter, will eliminate the state sales tax on essential hygiene products like menstrual products, diapers, and incontinence products.

“This law is about dignity and confidence – so every person who uses necessary hygiene products can feel comfortable in their bodies,” said Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “For too long, too many Coloradans have been going without period products, diapers and essential hygiene products. Our law slashes the state sales tax on these items because they’re essential for millions of people. Together, we’re moving closer to a future of affordable hygiene products for all.”

"Right now, things like food and medicine are tax exempt, but other essential hygiene products are not. This inequity impacts low-income folks and communities of color the most,” said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder County. “This critical law is about dignity. The more we can make these products affordable, the more access folks will have to these essential products."

“Today, we’re standing up for dignity and removing the sales tax on hygiene products,” said Susan Lontine D-Denver. “By eliminating the sales tax on diapers and period products we’re making these products more affordable to everyone who uses them. These items are essential to many families in our state and making them more affordable saves Coloradans money.”

“Every Coloradan deserves to live with dignity, but for far too many, their inability to pay for basic human needs like period products and diapers means they can’t,” said Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster. “With this law, we’re removing the tax on dignity while ensuring that Coloradans can save money on essential items. This is a commonsense step in the right direction that will help countless families afford these products so they can maintain their own health and care for their loved ones.”

HB22-1364, sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Matt Soper and Senators Tammy Story and Kevin Priola, will ensure Coloradans have access to day to day necessities by investing $3 million in food pantry assistance and broadening the kinds of products that food pantries may purchase with the funds to include culturally significant foods.

“The pandemic only exacerbated inequity and left many families economically insecure, which often includes food insecurity,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “Today, we’re taking action and directing $3 million to help Coloradans have access to everyday necessities and healthy foods. When we uplift and invest in families, we create more resilient communities and help all Coloradans thrive.”

“Coloradans are still feeling the financial impact of the pandemic, leaving many people food insecure and unable to afford everyday necessities,” said Senator Tammy Story, D-Conifer. “This new law will help alleviate the pressure folks have faced over the last few years by ensuring they have access to nutritious foods and basic needs so they can better support themselves and their families.”

To uplift Colorado families, Governor Polis also signed HB22-1380 sponsored by Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Rod Pelton and Senators Jeff Bridges and Don Coram. This law directs $14 million in federal pandemic relief funds to save people money on healthy food and increase critical services for low-income individuals.

“Together, we’re making smart investments to increase access to food, groceries and critical services for the Coloradans who need it the most,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver. “This law will foster new markets for Colorado agriculture, support small food retailers, and reduce the everyday cost of food for Coloradans. Low-income families were disproportionately affected by the pandemic, so we are also improving how we deliver food benefits and other critical services to best meet their needs and save them money.”

“Moving Colorado forward means ensuring that no one is left behind, which is why we’re making important investments to uplift low-income folks who have been disproportionately impacted by the economic consequences of the pandemic,” said Senator Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “By increasing access to healthy foods and the essential services people need to thrive, we can help more families bounce back and get back on track all while saving them money.”

This law invests $8 million to support small food retailers and small farmers to ensure underserved communities have access to healthy, fresh foods through a consortium and grant program. This will support small food retailers and grocery stores with technical assistance and one-time grants of up to $25,000 to strengthen Colorado’s food value chain.

The law also directs $2 million in federal relief funds to efficiently identify SNAP recipients who are also eligible for utility bill assistance; $3 million for a universal management system to reduce administrative costs and streamline the application process for various benefit programs; and $1 million to support technology upgrades and integrate the Double Up Food Bucks Program in local food stores, increasing access to healthy foods for SNAP recipients.