Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) has authored innovative legislation that would exempt diagnostic testing kits and equipment from sales tax in the state of Minnesota. This bill would cover tests and devices such as COVID at-home tests, pregnancy tests, and food allergy kits. Covered kits must be available for purchase at retail. 

“We want to incentivize people to take care of themselves and look after their health, and that’s why this bill is so necessary,” said Howe. “Some of these kits can carry a hefty price tag, and we shouldn’t further tax folks that want to buy a kit to keep themselves healthy.”

Notably, this bill’s focus is on kits that are used for furthering one’s own health, therefore the language excludes DNA testing kits from the proposed sales tax exemption. 

This bill was heard in the Senate Tax committee and was laid for possible inclusion in the committee’s final omnibus bill.