Sales Tax Fairness Passes Louisiana House: Booksellers Urged to Call Senators

On Monday, June 13, the Louisiana House of Representatives approved legislation that would require remote retailers with online affiliates in the state to collect and remit sales tax for orders made by Louisiana residents.

In an important step forward for sales tax fairness in Louisiana, on Monday, June 13, the Louisiana House of Representatives approved legislation that would require remote retailers with online affiliates in the state to collect and remit sales tax for orders made by Louisiana residents. The legislation, HB 641, was approved by a vote of 77-15. The bill now moves to the state Senate.

“We are grateful to the state’s booksellers who reached out to their legislators in support of sales tax fairness — and especially to Tom Lowenburg of Octavia Books [1] [in New Orleans] for testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee in May [2] in support of the bill,” said ABA CEO Oren Teicher. “However, there is still more to do. We are asking booksellers to reach out to their state senators to urge them to support HB 641.”

The legislative session is expected to end on June 23.

Louisiana booksellers should have received an e-mail earlier this week asking them to contact their senators. To make it easier for member bookstores in Louisiana to reach out to their legislators, ABA has prepared a template letter [3] that booksellers can adapt and e-mail or fax to their senators, or use as a source for talking points for a phone call. Louisiana booksellers can find their state senators here [4].