Illinois and Oklahoma recently motioned to eliminate grocery taxes in their respective states. According to NBC Chicago, at least fifteen states currently have some sort of sales tax on groceries.
Illinois originally suspended the grocery tax during the pandemic to relieve the financial burden on families, but now Governor J.B. Pritzker is advocating for the tax to be permanently repealed, according to the report.
“If it reduces inflation for families from four percent to three percent, even if it only puts a few hundred bucks back in families’ pockets, it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
The current state law notes that a one percent tax on grocery items applies to products that are meant to “be consumed off the premises where they are sold.” The report said that the measure would have to go to lawmakers, adding that it is unclear if state officials may prohibit local governments in the state from implementing their respective grocery taxes.
Oklahoma is further along in its plan to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries. On Thursday, House Bill 1955 was passed in the Oklahoma Senate with a vote of 42-2, reports local news source KOKH.
If the bill becomes law, it will eliminate the 4.5 percent state sales tax on retail sale food and food ingredients. The bill is currently with Governor Kevin Stitt.
"With the passage of House Bill 1955, the Legislature has managed to give Oklahomans the largest single-year tax cut in state history, returning $411 million to our citizens at a time when they need it the most," said Speaker Charles McCall in a statement. "I would like to give a tremendous amount of credit to my colleagues in the House who have fought through both regular and special sessions over the past three years to cut taxes and provide relief to the citizens of Oklahoma.”