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HB 703

RS & UT; food for human consumption and essential personal hygiene products, delayed effective date.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jason Ballard and 30 co-sponsors

Virginia bill delays implementation of sales tax elimination for food and hygiene products to assess fiscal impact on state budget revenues.

Continued to next session in Finance (Voice Vote)
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Bill Summary · HB 703

Legislative bill overview

HB 703 proposes to eliminate or reduce sales tax on food for human consumption and essential personal hygiene products in Virginia, with an implementation delay. The bill has been referred to the House Finance Committee and is currently being reviewed by a subcommittee, with a fiscal impact statement already requested from the tax division.

Why is this important

Sales tax on food and hygiene products directly affects household budgets, particularly for lower-income families who spend a larger percentage of their income on these necessities. The fiscal impact statement suggests this change would have measurable revenue consequences for Virginia's state budget that legislators need to evaluate before proceeding.

Potential points of contention

  • Revenue loss: Eliminating sales tax on these items reduces state revenue; the delayed effective date suggests concerns about immediate fiscal impact
  • Definition disputes: Determining what qualifies as "essential" hygiene products could be contentious (e.g., cosmetics vs. medical supplies)
  • Regressive vs. progressive argument: While tax relief sounds beneficial, opponents may argue other tax structures better target assistance to lower-income households

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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