A handful of students rallied on Bascom Hill Thursday to promote student awareness of a new legislation that could make textbooks tax-exempt.

The Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Committee rallied on Legislative Bills AB 264 and SB 220, which are currently before the state Legislature. If passed, these bills would make all textbooks and course-related materials exempt from the current 5 percent sales tax.

At the rally, several committee representatives held a large check made out for $1,440,000 — the estimated amount UW-Madison students could save each semester under the new bill. This amount breaks down to approximately $15 per student each semester.

The committee’s co-chair, Faith Kurtyka, said the purpose of the rally was to promote student awareness of the bill.

“Were trying to get students to know how important this is,” Kurtyka said

Co-chair Anthony Sussman agreed.

“It’s important that students on this campus take an active role in their state government,” Sussman said.

The Assembly’s version of the bill passed Feb. 5 through the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities; and the bill is currently awaiting a vote on the Assembly floor.

Eight other states, including New York, Arizona, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have passed laws making textbooks tax-exempt. Several other states have proposed laws similar to Wisconsin’s proposal.

The regular Wisconsin Legislative session ended Thursday, but a special session will take place in late April. The Legislative Affairs Committee hopes to raise campus awareness and gain support for the bill by that time.

Anita Bertram, a committee intern, said ASM thinks the bill is necessary for many reasons.
“This is important because savings will be going to the student, who is traditionally from a poorer block of taxpayers,” Bertram said. “And it’s a tax cut that will hopefully boost the economy. Also, the extra money will help a lot of students who will be struggling with the tuition hikes.”