State Rep. Heather H. Rhyne has filed legislation in the North Carolina House to eliminate sales tax on certain family care products, such as baby wipes and feminine hygiene supplies, according to the North Carolina State House.
The measure, introduced as HB 1200 on April 30 in the 2025 regular session, carries the short title “Tax-Free Family Essentials Act.”
Below is a summary based on the actual bill text, along with clarifications designed to outline its scope.
The bill would exempt selected family care products from North Carolina’s sales and use tax, effective Oct. 1, 2026. New or updated definitions are provided for baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, grooming and hygiene items, and prenatal vitamins, with explicit criteria on marketing and labeling that must be met. In addition, the bill broadens an existing exemption for certain drugs to cover over-the-counter medicines intended for children 12 and younger. The measure would also specifically exempt retail sales of baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, and prenatal vitamins, while removing restricting language from the existing Medicaid exemption for diapers and incontinence underpads.
Among the four bill sponsors, Grant L. Campbell, MD sponsored the highest number of bills (66) in the 2025 regular session.
Proposed bills in North Carolina undergo a multi-stage process before becoming law. Upon filing, a bill is assigned to a committee for evaluation. It must pass three separate readings in both legislative chambers. If amendments are made in one chamber, both must vote on the identical text to proceed. Following passage in both chambers, the governor has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is adjourned) to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without signature.
To track the progress of this and other bills, visit this site.
Rhyne is a 1998 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Rhyne, a Republican, was elected in 2024 to serve North Carolina’s 97th House District, succeeding former state representative Jason Saine.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 1200 | 04/30/2026 | Tax-Free Family Essentials Act. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Mike Schietzelt, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 1149 | 04/30/2026 | Keep NC Working Act. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Allen Chesser, and Phil Rubin | HB 1186 | 04/30/2026 | Equipping Law Enf. for Better Drug Detection. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 1203 | 04/30/2026 | Family Support for Those Who Serve Act. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Erin Paré, Mike Schietzelt, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 1110 | 04/29/2026 | Early Intervention School Attendance Pilot. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Celeste C. Cairns, and Charles W. Miller | HB 1075 | 04/28/2026 | Persistent D.V. Offender Registry. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Mike Schietzelt, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 1083 | 04/28/2026 | Voluntary Portable Benefits Plan Act. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 1086 | 04/28/2026 | Child Care Initiative Funds/Reform/Study. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, David Willis, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 981 | 04/10/2025 | Local Schools Open Enrollment Study. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Beth Helfrich, John A. Torbett, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 845 | 04/09/2025 | Reduce Drowning Risk/Public Docks. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Brian Biggs, David Willis, and Ray Pickett | HB 875 | 04/09/2025 | DPI to Redesign Math Instruction. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 877 | 04/09/2025 | Childcare Pilot. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Grant L. Campbell, MD, Sarah Crawford, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 820 | 04/08/2025 | Prescription Eye Drop Early Refill Coverage. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Brian Biggs, Hugh Blackwell, and Larry W. Potts | HB 803 | 04/07/2025 | 3-Year FDA Approval for New Childhood Vaxx. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Brian Biggs, and David Willis | HB 806 | 04/07/2025 | Public School Operational Relief. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Brian Biggs, David Willis, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 773 | 04/03/2025 | School Performance Grade Changes. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Blair Eddins, Jennifer Balkcom, and Sarah Stevens | HB 791 | 04/03/2025 | Women’s Safety and Protection Act. |
| Heather H. Rhyne and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 592 | 03/31/2025 | Toxic-Free Medical Devices Act of 2025. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Erin Paré, Mike Schietzelt, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 611 | 03/31/2025 | Increase APs in Public Schools. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Jeff Zenger, Jonathan L. Almond, and Neal Jackson | HB 618 | 03/31/2025 | Ivermectin Access Act. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Cody Huneycutt, and Kyle Hall | HB 574 | 03/27/2025 | Workforce Development Pilot Project. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Donny Lambeth, and Grant L. Campbell, MD | HB 536 | 03/26/2025 | Physical Therapy Practice Act Mods. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 542 | 03/26/2025 | Child Care Mental & Behavioral Services/Funds. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Donna McDowell White, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 546 | 03/26/2025 | Inmate Medicaid Suspension/Team-Based Care. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Brandon Lofton, and Kyle Hall | HB 517 | 03/25/2025 | Modify Nonprofit Corp. Act/Charitable Org. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dennis Riddell, Erin Paré, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 488 | 03/24/2025 | Modify School Performance Grades. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Donna McDowell White, Donny Lambeth, and Jimmy Dixon | HB 491 | 03/24/2025 | Medicaid Work Requirements. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, and Ray Pickett | HB 437 | 03/18/2025 | Establish Drug-Free Homeless Service Zones. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 412 | 03/17/2025 | Child Care Regulatory Reforms. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Brian Biggs, and David Willis | HB 415 | 03/17/2025 | Modify Math & Social Studies Grad. Req. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Jake Johnson, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 372 | 03/11/2025 | Home-Based Business Fairness Act. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Cody Huneycutt, and Kyle Hall | HB 351 | 03/10/2025 | Recovery-Friendly Workplace Program/Funds. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Cody Huneycutt | HB 330 | 03/06/2025 | Controlled Substances Act – Updates. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 309 | 03/05/2025 | Various Local Provisions VI. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Howard Penny, Jr., Jonathan L. Almond, and Paul Scott | HB 239 | 02/26/2025 | Change to EC Funding Formula. |
| Heather H. Rhyne and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 190 | 02/24/2025 | SchCal Mandatory Winter Break/Date Adjustment. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Cody Huneycutt, Hugh Blackwell, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 163 | 02/21/2025 | Pharmacy Benefits Manager Provisions. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Buansi, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 145 | 02/17/2025 | Funds for Diabetes Research Institute/UNC-CH. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Brenden H. Jones, and Jay Adams | HB 35 | 02/03/2025 | Establish Military Appreciation Month. |
| Heather H. Rhyne | HB 41 | 02/03/2025 | Lincoln/Catawba Common Boundary Line. |
