Could back-to-school supplies in Pennsylvania be tax exempt?
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — Two Pennsylvania legislators are trying to lift some of the burden that parents and guardians feel when back-to-school shopping comes around.
Representatives Ann Flood (R-Northampton County) and Robert Freeman (D-Northampton County) are hoping to ease the financial burden on Pennsylvanians' pockets when it comes to their children's education. According to the United States Senate Federal Credit Union, in 2024, it was estimated that parents would spend over $500 per child on school supplies.
Average items and expenses:
Clothing: $169
Shoes: $113
Electronics & technology: $206
School supplies (i.e., notebooks, folders, glue, pencils, markers, scissors): $94
However, families who may be sending a child off to college are estimated to spend over $1,000, as the jump to further education may come with a larger price tag.
Pennsylvania bill looks to prohibit use of AI in political campaigns
In a memo to other lawmakers, they announced plans to create an annual back-to-school sales tax holiday. The legislation would create a three-week holiday during which various school supplies can be bought tax-free. They have suggested that this holiday take place for the first three weeks of August.
They went on to say that the bill would cover computer equipment under $1,500, instructional material and other school supplies under $50. Pennsylvania would not be the first to have a tax-exempt period, as several other states have already passed pieces of legislation.
The Federation of Tax Administrators notes that states like Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and West Virginia are among the states that have different legislation aimed at reducing back-to-school costs. Let's take a look at what these states currently offer:
Alabama
Clothing $100
Computer $750 or under
School supplies $50
Books $30 or less
Arkansas
Back to school clothing/footwear $100 or less
Clothing accessories $50 or less
School supplies, including art supplies
Instructional material
Electronic devices
Tennessee (Began in 2006)
Clothing
School supplies
Computers
West Virginia (Began in 2021)
Clothing $125 or less
Computers $500 or less
School instruction material $20 or less
School supplies $50 or less
Sports equipment $150 or less
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Karine Jean-Pierre's exit from Democratic Party part of a larger trend?
(NewsNation) — Nina Turner, a Democrat and former Ohio state senator, told 'Morning in America' she believes former President Joe Biden's press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is leaving the Democratic Party 'definitely for book sales' but acknowledged the two-party system is 'asinine.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Saint Louis Zoo welcomes cheetah cub quintuplets
ST. LOUIS – The Saint Louis Zoo welcomed its newest animals last month. Five cheetah cubs were born on May 5 at the River's Edge Cheetah Breeding Center. The litter comes from the zoo's cheetahs Cora, 4, and Vader, 8. According to the Saint Louis Zoo, this is their first successful cheetah cub litter in seven years. They're nicknamed 'Cora's Quints.' Raising cheetah cubs is 'critical' in the first few months of their life, and they will stay out of the public eye for some time to bond with their mother. Care teams are monitoring each one via camera inside the den, but they say Cora has been an attentive mom. 'Each recommended cheetah birth is significant for the survival of this vulnerable species. Our dedicated Animal Care teams have been instrumental in these successful births from the pairing and introductions of Cora and Vader to the family's dietary needs, hormonal analysis for pregnancy monitoring, veterinary care, preparing a maternal den and so much more,' Julie Hartell-DeNardo, Kevin Beckmann Curator of Carnivores at Saint Louis Zoo, said in the release. Within the next few weeks, the cubs will receive their first vet checkup, which is where the doctors will learn the sex of each cub and name them. Cora and Vader, who arrived to the zoo last year, were paired together by recommendation from the AZA Cheetah Species Survival Plan. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Senate duo seeks to boost security clearance process
Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) are unveiling legislation to change the security clearance process after President Trump revoked clearances for high-profile opponents, including former President Biden. Their bill, dubbed the Integrity in Security Clearance Determinations Act, would bar any administration from revoking a clearance for political purposes or over retribution. 'Americans should be able to have confidence that the security clearance process is focused solely on protecting our nation's most sensitive information,' said Warner, the Senate Intelligence Committee's ranking member. 'This bipartisan legislation will make clear that this vital system cannot be weaponized for political retribution.' Collins said in a statement that Americans 'should have the utmost confidence in the integrity of the security clearance process.' 'The security clearance system is critical to protecting our country from harm and safeguarding access to our most classified information,' the Maine Republican said. 'This bipartisan bill would make the current system fairer and more transparent by ensuring that decisions to grant, deny, or revoke clearances are based solely on codified guidelines.' The legislation would also preclude agencies from wielding clearances to punish whistleblowers or to discriminate. In addition, the blueprint also codifies the ability for government employees to appeal clearance revocations or denials and for background on those appeals to be released publicly. The bill was first introduced in 2019. The reintroduction also comes after Biden previously revoked Trump's clearance following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
