Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act
Sponsored By: Senator Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Introduced
Summary
Limits tariffs on school supplies. It would freeze import duties for many school and classroom items at the levels in effect on January 19, 2025 to curb tariff-driven price increases for students, families, teachers, and schools.
Show full summary
- Families and students: Would keep duties from rising on common back-to-school items, including backpacks, notebooks, crayons, pens, pencils, and keyboards, which aims to help control out-of-pocket costs at purchase.
- Teachers and schools: Classroom items used in elementary and secondary education could be designated for duty protection through rules from the Secretary of Commerce in coordination with the Secretary of Education; those protections remain unless Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval.
- Trade and oversight: The bill lists specific Harmonized Tariff Schedule categories that qualify and would require the Secretary of Commerce to report to Congress every 180 days on exempted items and new classroom designations.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Limits new tariffs on school supplies
If enacted, this bill would bar customs duties on many school supplies from being raised above the level in effect on January 19, 2025. The restriction would apply to a list of tariff codes (for example backpacks, notebooks, pencils, pens, keyboards, and children’s coloring books) and to items later designated as classroom supplies by the Secretary of Commerce working with the Secretary of Education. The rule would not stop antidumping or countervailing duties (Title VII) or duties proclaimed under section 201 of the Trade Act. Commerce would report to Congress every 180 days on exempt items, and Congress could use an expedited joint-resolution process to disapprove any specific designation.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
CO • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov