SUNucate Expands: Tax-Free Sunscreen and Sunglasses at School
The bill that lets kids use sunscreen at school just got an upgrade; if it reaches your state, SPF could get cheaper and sunglasses could count as official sun protection.
In August 2025, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association updated its SUNucate model legislation, adopted in 30 jurisdictions since 2016, to encourage states to exempt sunscreen from sales tax and to recognize sunglasses as sun-protective gear for students.
The ASDSA frames the expansion as building on a successful model bill, removing financial and policy barriers so students can protect themselves from UV exposure during the school day.
Questions we get a lot
What is the SUNucate model legislation?
SUNucate is a model bill from the ASDSA that lets students possess and use sunscreen at school without a doctor's note, treating it as the protective product it is rather than as a regulated medication. It has been adopted in 30 jurisdictions since 2016.
What did the 2025 SUNucate update add?
The August 2025 update encourages states to exempt sunscreen from sales tax and to formally recognize sunglasses as sun-protective gear for students. Both changes aim to make sun protection cheaper and easier for families.
Is SUNucate law in my state?
SUNucate has been adopted in 30 jurisdictions since 2016, but the specifics vary by state. The ASDSA's release is the best place to confirm current adoption and the new provisions being proposed.
r/Parenting: 'My kid's school used to treat sunscreen like a medication that needed a note. Is that changing, and could sunscreen actually become tax-free where we live?'