At an Oct. 30 hearing, the legislature's study committee is expected to review a draft bill "concerning the repeal of the excise tax exemption for sacramental wines."
The bill would repeal an existing state tax exemption for "sacramental wine sold and used for religious purposes."
According to the draft bill, the tax exemption for sacramental wine is "claimed by a small number of taxpayers for a total amount of only $2,600."
"There is no corresponding excise tax exemption for religious organizations that use other goods with excise taxes for religious ceremonies," the bill says, proposing to eliminate the exemption "to simplify the collection and administration of taxes for the state of Colorado."
Among other bills the committee will review is a draft bill "concerning the repeal of the insurance premium tax exemption for fraternal societies."
"Under current law, the insurance premium tax exemption for fraternal societies states that fraternal benefit societies that offer insurance products to their members are exempt from the insurance premium tax. The bill repeals this exemption," the draft text explains.
A January 2019 report from Colorado's state auditor explains that 35 "fraternal benefit societies...which are social groups organized around a common bond that offer insurance products to their members." The groups are exempt from state insurance tax premiums.
Fraternal benefit societies include the Knights of Columbus, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and other social groups, both religious and non-religious.