Posted on 02/15/25
| News Source: WBAL
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 15, 2025 - House Bill 1469, the For Our Kids Act, would impose a tax on certain distributors of sugary beverages.
“Two cents per ounce is what the bill proposes,” said Montgomery County Delegate Emily Shetty, D-District 18, the lead sponsor of the bill. “So, it’s an excise tax that would go on the distributor. Distributor could choose to take it or pass it on to consumers. The bill, as drafted, covers beverages and sugar or powder form or and syrups as well, but it covers sugars as well as sweeteners — artificial sweeteners.”
| Bill: Read House Bill 1469
Shetty said natural juices with no added sugar would not be included in the tax.
If passed, Shetty said they expect to bring in around $500 million per year.
She said the money would be used to expand access to free school meals, access to childcare scholarships and the General Fund. Shetty said there is a public health approach to it.
“The bill really seeks to raise awareness of some of the harms that have been caused by sugary beverages and then reinvest those same dollars back into the communities that have been harmed the most by them,” Shetty said.
11 News spoke with multiple people about the bill and received split responses.
“It’s a good thing if it’s helping our children, our youth, eat, drink healthier, that’s a good thing. But then, I don’t think anything should be raised any more than what it already is. Stuff is already high,” one shopper told 11 News.
“Anything that promotes the benefit of health to the population, I support,” said another shopper.
“It’s good for healthy initiatives and all, it’s just, in this economy, always something being added,” a shopper told 11 News.
A hearing on the bill is scheduled for March 6.