FOOD Senate vote passes Oklahoma grocery tax cut bill, state leaders react - UPDATE, signed into law

[1911user]

As I read this, it would only cut the state part of tax on food (4.5%). Local and county sales/food taxes would still apply.

Senate vote passes Oklahoma grocery tax cut bill, state leaders react

The long-awaited Oklahoma grocery tax cut bill has passed a Senate vote Thursday morning making it one step closer to a reality for Oklahomans.

okcfox.com

Senate vote passes Oklahoma grocery tax cut bill, state leaders react

by Sydney Brooks
February 22nd 2024 at 3:00 PM


Grocery tax cut bill heads to the Governor's desk for approval

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — The long-awaited grocery tax cut bill passed a vote on the Senate floor Thursday morning making it one step closer to a reality for Oklahomans.

According to a statement from Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, the House Bill 1955 it was passed with a vote of 42-2.

The House passed the bill 11 months ago and has been awaiting a vote in the Senate along with an income tax cut.

SEE ALSO: Senate to vote on grocery tax cut, potentially saving Oklahomans $400 annually

"This is a truly historic day. 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," McCall said, "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. Their persistence and willingness to come in on weekends, holidays, and during the interim to do the work of the people has led to a policy that will help all Oklahomans."

McCall also thanked Governor Stitt and colleagues in the Senate for their support of the bill that will bring much-needed tax relief for Oklahomans.

"I would also like to thank President Pro Temp Greg Treat and our colleagues in the Senate for finally voting this legislation through to the governor's desk. The delay in the vote cost Oklahomans an estimated additional $374 million in taxes, and the lack of an emergency to immediately put the cuts in place will cost our citizens another $200M, but Senate leadership did their best to at least secure passage. The House has sent several tax cuts to the Senate over the last three years only to have them stall and not be heard. Thankfully this legislation has finally passed after 332 days of waiting. Oklahomans are currently facing some of the worst inflation of the last three decades, and the Senate's vote today means that help is finally on the way."

According to state leaders, this bill is the first step of many to help Oklahomas through record inflation not seen in almost 30 years.

Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, also released a statement Thursday morning.

“I am pleased the Oklahoma State Senate has finally taken action on what we already know will help so many Oklahoma families. For the past several legislative sessions, including special sessions, the House Democratic Caucus has filed legislation to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries to provide immediate tax relief for working Oklahomans each time they go to the grocery store. It has always been our priority – and will remain a priority – for us to protect our revenue base while also advocating for policies that will lower costs for Oklahoma families who need it the most. By eliminating the state sales tax on groceries, we are accomplishing a goal House Democrats have been working on and supported for many years.”

The bill is headed to the governor's desk, where Stitt previously said he would sign any tax cut bill that comes to his desk.

If the bill becomes law, it would eliminate the 4.5% state sales tax on retail sale food and food ingredients.

City and Counties cannot start new sales tax on food until June 30, 2025.

Governor Kevin Stitt released a statement on Thursday in celebration of House Bill 1955 passing through the legislature:

Today, we get to fulfill a promise to all four million Oklahomans and pass the largest single year tax cut in Oklahoma history. Cutting the grocery tax means relief for all Oklahomans. I’ve called for tax cuts since 2019 and in 2022 I called a special session specifically to cut the grocery tax. I want to thank Speaker McCall and the House for tirelessly fighting for tax cuts, and to Pro Tem Treat and the Senate for sending this to my desk. I’m going to always fight for limited government and lower taxes, and I will still advocate to get us on path to zero income tax. This is a victory I’m excited to celebrate.

 

[1911user]

https://kfor.com/news/oklahoma-legislature/gov-stitt-expected-to-sign-state-grocery-tax-elimination-into-law-passes-both-house-and-senate/

Gov. Stitt expected to sign state grocery tax elimination into law; passes both House and Senate

by: Kaylee Olivas/KFOR
Posted: Feb 22, 2024 / 05:44 PM CST
Updated: Feb 22, 2024 / 05:52 PM CST

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Both legislative chambers have given the green light on a proposal that would eliminate the state grocery tax this year.

While Governor Kevin Stitt has persistently asked the legislature to cut personal incomes taxes, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat (R-OKC) has said it’s not in the cards and would rather give Oklahomans relief in the grocery store.

“February 15 was key to my caucus to try to figure out what can we really afford as the state of Oklahoma on a sustainable basis. The February 15 numbers, quite frankly, came out better than we even anticipated in December. The time was right to give Oklahomans relief at the grocery store where they’re getting hit the hardest,” said Pro Tem Treat.

The House passed a bill that would eliminate the state grocery tax during the 2023 legislative session, but the Senate didn’t move on it.

The proposal would not only eliminate the state tax, but also put a moratorium on local grocery and sales taxes that would prohibit cities from increasing those through June 2025.

The House’s version of this tax cut would also take effect immediately once signed into law.

On Thursday, the Senate decided to drop the emergency clause that would have provided immediate relief.

“The reason we didn’t do the emergency – there’s some ramp up time for these vendors, these stores, these privately owned grocery stores to be able to change their systems, to be able to accommodate this, and also for the tax commission to promulgate rules. It just made sense,” said Pro Tem Treat.

With the delay in the tax cut being enforced, Speaker of the House Charles McCall (R-Atoka) said it will cost Oklahomans an additional $200 million.

“The delay in the vote cost Oklahomans an estimated additional $374 million in taxes, and the lack of an emergency to immediately put the cuts in place will cost our citizens another $200M, but Senate leadership did their best to at least secure passage. The House has sent several tax cuts to the Senate over the last three years only to have them stall and not be heard. Thankfully this legislation has finally passed after 332 days of waiting. Oklahomans are currently facing some of the worst inflation of the last three decades, and the Senate’s vote today means that help is finally on the way.”
Speaker of the House Charles McCall (R-Atoka)

Pro Tem Treat called Speaker McCall’s statement “childish.”

“It’s a day we should all be celebrating together,” he said. “I’m not going to get down into the mud with him.”

The state’s revenue is projected to decrease by $418 million with the state grocery tax cut.

According to Senator Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville), the tax cut is estimated to save each Oklahoman an average of $104.25 per year which is about $2/day.

“Eliminating the state sales tax on groceries will bring much-needed tax relief to Oklahomans reeling from inflated prices, due to bad policies in Washington, D.C. They will start to benefit this year and every time they purchase groceries,” said Daniels. “It was important to make this decision now so we can move ahead crafting the state budget as that must be done by the end of May.”

Now that both the House and Senate have passed the grocery tax elimination, the bill will go to the Governor’s desk for a signature.

“Today, we get to fulfill a promise to all four million Oklahomans and pass the largest single year tax cut in Oklahoma history. Cutting the grocery tax means relief for all Oklahomans. I’m going to always fight for limited government and lower taxes, and I will still advocate to get us on path to zero income tax. This is a victory I’m excited to celebrate.”
Governor Kevin Stitt

Pro Tem Treat told KFOR because of the grocery tax cut, this will lead to flat budgets.

“We will live within those means. We’re not going to try to go out and score political points and pass things that we can’t afford,” he stated.

 

[33dInd]

Only been talking this for twenty years. What’s the rush
As an aside the talk about this helping the poor and those on welfare
Well
In Oklahoma they were already exempt from any sales tax on groceries
If they really wanted tax relief they would work on the property tax and seriously restrict what the SCHOOLS get on property taxes
Now that’s a burden

 

[pauldingbabe]

City and Counties cannot start new sales tax on food until June 30, 2025.

???
A year and 4 months...am I reading this right? They can not put this tax cut to use for another 16 months? Or the cut is in effect until June 30, 2025?



I have a headache

 

[1911user]

???
A year and 4 months...am I reading this right? They can not put this tax cut to use for another 16 months? Or the cut is in effect until June 30, 2025?



I have a headache

The articles on this are not well written. I posted 2 of the better ones that, read together, give sort of an overall picture. Once it is signed by the governor, I would expect a better description of how it will be implemented.

 

[Sammy55]

According to Senator Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville), the tax cut is estimated to save each Oklahoman an average of $104.25 per year which is about $2/day.

What???!!! $2 per day comes out to about $730 per year.

$104.25 per year comes out to 28.5 cents per day. That's a big difference!!

Taking her figures, she means $2 per week adds up to $104.25 per year.

And this is a Senator?? No wonder they can't manage money and spend hundreds of dollars for a $20 toilet seat.

 

[mecoastie]

What???!!! $2 per day comes out to about $730 per year.

$104.25 per year comes out to 28.5 cents per day. That's a big difference!!

Taking her figures, she means $2 per week adds up to $104.25 per year.

And this is a Senator?? No wonder they can't manage money and spend hundreds of dollars for a $20 toilet seat.

We spend about $300 a week on groceries for the 4 of us. My kids are Hoovers. We would save 13.50 a week eliminating that tax. So per person that is 3.38 a week. Saving $2 a week equates to about a $45 a week grocery bill for 1 person

 

[33dInd]

???
A year and 4 months...am I reading this right? They can not put this tax cut to use for another 16 months? Or the cut is in effect until June 30, 2025?



I have a headache

Well
What their saying is no city or county can implement a NEW sales tax to replace the one the state us removing
also it gives time for the inevitable law suits
See Oklahoma has a preemption law on the books that states no city or county can assess a sales tax on any product that the STATE does not
So
The city sales tax on groceries would be illegal and residents will sue
I know this cause I was a city manager for twent two years
The courts in all 77 counties will be jammed up with attempts to remove the city groceries tax
It’s a clever political ploy to remove the total sales tax on groceries without the cities and counties fighting the STATE

 

[Shotgun Willy]

As much as I am for this, living in Oklahoma, since Mundson likes it it makes me uneasy. I haven’t seen anything that she liked that was a good idea.

 

[LightEcho]

The government always wants more of your money. They are certain that they know how to spend it better and they are just helping you.

The concept of property tax sounds good when they say it is to prevent rich people from owning all the property and passing it on to family. Death & inheritance tax is supposed to help that too. But rich people do one stinking thing: make tax-free foundations where they can store their properties(and money) and live off that wealth "doing the foundation work".

Property taxes are so communistic that they should have NEVER been allowed to happen. Income taxes on personal earnings is also evil. You trade equally your skills and labor & time for your wages. No profit. Yet, the govt claims the RIGHT to take from your earnings as if they are entirely profit.

 

[Macgyver]

Always found the sales tax on food a weird concept.
Here in NJ we never had it, nor PA where I have shopped on occasion.

 

[SlipperySlope]

Although our property taxes are about the lowest in the country we had a 4% grocery tax. Last year they passed a law to start cutting it using a complicated formula. We got a 1% cut last year but there will be no further cut this year due to the loss of revenue from the previous cut.

I agree that groceries should not be taxed. They aren't a luxury item. Nowadays though everything is taxed including water, electric, death etc. To me death tax is a double tax since the person who died had already paid tax on his estate when building it. Why should it be taxed again (twice) because they died.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Always found the sales tax on food a weird concept.
Here in NJ we never had it, nor PA where I have shopped on occasion.

No sales tax on most foods here in Iowa. Fast food, take out snd hot deli foods are taxes, as is candy, soda pop, and booze.

 

[Macgyver]

No sales tax on most foods here in Iowa. Fast food, take out snd hot deli foods are taxes, as is candy, soda pop, and booze.

Yes the same here for the hot ready to eat deli food. I don't think soda from the grocery store is taxed not sure about the candy either. Booze yes.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Yes the same here for the hot ready to eat deli food. I don't think soda form the grocery store is taxed not sure about the candy either. Booze yes.

the candy and soda tax is new as of something like 1995 here in Iowa, and Iowans refer to it as the "sin" tax. They also doubled the tax on booze and tobacco products at the same time, and legalized some sort of lottery type gambling system...you know for the schools.

 

[Publius]

Taxing food is a crime and should not be allowed anywhere in this country.

 

[1911user]

I found one article that stated the OK grocery tax removal would start in August this year once the Gov. signs it.

 

[Griz3752]

???
A year and 4 months...am I reading this right? They can not put this tax cut to use for another 16 months? Or the cut is in effect until June 30, 2025?



I have a headache

I was in the same boat a couple of days ago but, I've slept since then: way better.

As I read this it seems the local jurisdictions have to wait for their next election cycle to get such passed but I'm very unfamiliar with the OK Constitution.

In fact all I'm sure about OK is both R. McIntire & B. Shelton are Okies but you probably know way more than that.

 

[pauldingbabe]

but you probably know way more than that.

Honestly I don't know much about Oklahoma, that is one state I haven't lived in.

I did, however, live in Texas a time or two. According to my research in Irving Texas (where i could look down McArthur Blvd and see the old stadium), there is not one thing that is right about Oklahoma.

It's a football/Cotton Bowl thing.

 

[Griz3752]

Honestly I don't know much about Oklahoma, that is one state I haven't lived in.

I did, however, live in Texas a time or two. According to my research in Irving Texas (where i could look down McArthur Blvd and see the old stadium), there is not one thing that is right about Oklahoma.

It's a football/Cotton Bowl thing.

Heard rumours of such things . . . . .

 

[SlipperySlope]

I remember my MIL when we took her to her local Wendy's in Ohio many years ago. She told the order guy that it was a to go order, even though we ate it there. Apparently it saved a few cents on the sales tax. To go's had a lower rate than dine in. She was real cheap.

 

[MountainBiker]

The government always wants more of your money. They are certain that they know how to spend it better and they are just helping you.

The concept of property tax sounds good when they say it is to prevent rich people from owning all the property and passing it on to family. Death & inheritance tax is supposed to help that too. But rich people do one stinking thing: make tax-free foundations where they can store their properties(and money) and live off that wealth "doing the foundation work".

Property taxes are so communistic that they should have NEVER been allowed to happen. Income taxes on personal earnings is also evil. You trade equally your skills and labor & time for your wages. No profit. Yet, the govt claims the RIGHT to take from your earnings as if they are entirely profit.

If you eliminate property taxes and income taxes, how do you propose paying for schools, roads, police, fire etc?

 

[Griz3752]

If you eliminate property taxes and income taxes, how do you propose paying for schools, roads, police, fire etc?

Not sure eliminating such taxes is the way to go but pretty certain some bills need to be by plebiscite.

Letting the non-elected bureaucrats who run such shops, design, administer and determine non-compliance penalties with virtually zero input from those paying for it all just doesn't sit well w/ me.

 

[Texican]

Our move from the Dallas burbs to Oklahoma has saved us thousands and thousands of dollars in property tax over what we paid in Texas.

Our property tax bill on two properties in Oklahoma was $783 for 2023.

The amount of sales tax we pay on food is very minor to our previous property tax bills.

Saving 4.5% with the elimination of state sales tax on food will be a bit of benefit.

Texican....

 

[MountainBiker]

Not sure eliminating such taxes is the way to go but pretty certain some bills need to be by plebiscite.

Letting the non-elected bureaucrats who run such shops, design, administer and determine non-compliance penalties with virtually zero input from those paying for it all just doesn't sit well w/ me.

I hear you, but what you describe is a reflection of the form of govt. your ancestors chose and current residents allow to continue. Much of small town New England still uses the Town Meeting form of govt. which is part of our legacy from the 1600's/1700's Puritans. It is an egalitarian type system in which registered voters meet once per year (Town Meeting Day) to approve budgets, town regs, salary schedules, fee schedules etc. Everyone gets to have their say and the majority wins. Approvals occur on a line item level. Selectboards and other town officials cannot spend or do anything that Town Meeting didn't approve of. Of course modern State law governs and mandates certain things. There are as well variations of Town Meeting in which votes are largely on aggregated budgets following public hearings where voters can provide input at line item levels, but the pure form of Town Meeting still exists in many places. The richest guy has no more say than the poorest guy on Town Meeting floor.

 

[33dInd]

I was in the same boat a couple of days ago but, I've slept since then: way better.

As I read this it seems the local jurisdictions have to wait for their next election cycle to get such passed but I'm very unfamiliar with the OK Constitution.

In fact all I'm sure about OK is both R. McIntire & B. Shelton are Okies but you probably know way more than that.

In Oklahoma a municipality may call a sales tax election 60 days ahead. It’s not tied to any other election date
That allows city’s to have a low voter turnout
They strive mightily to avoid any sales tax or property tax increase during any national or state election

 

[Griz3752]

In Oklahoma a municipality may call a sales tax election 60 days ahead. It’s not tied to any other election date
That allows city’s to have a low voter turnout
They strive mightily to avoid any sales tax or property tax increase during any national or state election

Perfect - I knew somebody here would an OK resident and be able to explain this.

Thank you sir

 

[Orion Commander]

No sales tax on most foods here in Iowa. Fast food, take out snd hot deli foods are taxes, as is candy, soda pop, and booze.

If I get donuts and eat at the bakery I pay sales tax. If I take them in a bag and enjoy them in the car, no tax. I needed to vacuum the car anyway.

 

[packyderms_wife]

If I get donuts and eat at the bakery I pay sales tax. If I take them in a bag and enjoy them in the car, no tax. I needed to vacuum the car anyway.

Umm no stop eating pastries in MY car!!!

 

[33dInd]

Perfect - I knew somebody here would an OK resident and be able to explain this.

Thank you sir

You are welcome

 

[Griz3752]

I hear you, but what you describe is a reflection of the form of govt. your ancestors chose and current residents allow to continue. Much of small town New England still uses the Town Meeting form of govt. which is part of our legacy from the 1600's/1700's Puritans. It is an egalitarian type system in which registered voters meet once per year (Town Meeting Day) to approve budgets, town regs, salary schedules, fee schedules etc. Everyone gets to have their say and the majority wins. Approvals occur on a line item level. Selectboards and other town officials cannot spend or do anything that Town Meeting didn't approve of. Of course modern State law governs and mandates certain things. There are as well variations of Town Meeting in which votes are largely on aggregated budgets following public hearings where voters can provide input at line item levels, but the pure form of Town Meeting still exists in many places. The richest guy has no more say than the poorest guy on Town Meeting floor.

Way more sensible than the crap fest of corruption er have here.

And they weren't my ancestors

 

[LightEcho]

If you eliminate property taxes and income taxes, how do you propose paying for schools, roads, police, fire etc?

And this is the question that is used to justify a communist government, comrade.

Schools. Nice government programming centers you've got there. They are typically the largest tax cost for towns. You CONSENT to them controlling your children and being the functional parent because you are too busy earning more money to be taxed appropriately. Public schools should be eliminated/ replaced by semi-private operations that parents can choose. Why should non-parents pay for someone else's children? Why should honorable people be forced to pay for gay indoctrinations for young children?

Roads. When you sell a property, there is often a conveyance tax. In my state, it is 2%. Part goes to town, part to state. Consider how many properties sell in your town each year. Developments are paved by the developer. When you buy a car or truck, you pay a sales tax. Where does that go? Why, of course, it goes into the state slush fund to control all facets of your life. State roads are maintained by the state with MANY streams of "revenue" extracted. Each town/city can establish what the cost is for road maintenance. Let's say it is $10 per linear foot. If your property has road frontage of 100 feet, then you can pay a road maintenance fee of $1000 per year. If your road neighbors decide they can do better privately, they can opt out and arrange their own maintenance. No pay, no maintenance. That is better than no tax paid - we take your property.

Police. Ah, comrade, police are so important. You need them to protect you, especially since we make it illegal for you to protect yourself. And as we pollute your society, more bad elements flourish making protection so much more important.
My town has no police. When things happen, we pay a fee for state troopers or a nearby town police force. That all needs to be privatized to a large extent. What we have for laws is a collection of prison rules that you must obey or you will be labelled ineligible for privileges. Rights? Bad word. Governments will not acknowledge your rights or the God who made you with them inalienable.

Fire Dept. We have a volunteer fire & EMT dept. Privately funded... but laws are making it untenable for volunteers. The government must control all, you see.

Start thinking for your self and you will see the paths to freedom. Be fearful and take their poison shots and obey their tyrannical commands and don't mind those hands in your pockets.

 

[West]

In the mid 90s, I got a big(for me) contract to replace the mechanical in the 9500 square foot county public school administration office. Spent the whole week in the attic. We did one system at a time so they could stay working. The mostly t-bar ceiling was not insulated, so we could hear the daily conversations in every office and even the meeting rooms.

For that whole week, not once did we hear any conversations about kids and their education. It was mostly shit talk about other teachers that actually taught in the classrooms. And Democrat politics. And about food and drink.

It was disgusting.

Home school your kids. Our current public education systems is really government indoctrination, hate on capitalism and how to be dependent on government.

 

[Griz3752]

And this is the question that is used to justify a communist government, comrade.

Schools. Nice government programming centers you've got there. They are typically the largest tax cost for towns. You CONSENT to them controlling your children and being the functional parent because you are too busy earning more money to be taxed appropriately. Public schools should be eliminated/ replaced by semi-private operations that parents can choose. Why should non-parents pay for someone else's children? Why should honorable people be forced to pay for gay indoctrinations for young children?

Roads. When you sell a property, there is often a conveyance tax. In my state, it is 2%. Part goes to town, part to state. Consider how many properties sell in your town each year. Developments are paved by the developer. When you buy a car or truck, you pay a sales tax. Where does that go? Why, of course, it goes into the state slush fund to control all facets of your life. State roads are maintained by the state with MANY streams of "revenue" extracted. Each town/city can establish what the cost is for road maintenance. Let's say it is $10 per linear foot. If your property has road frontage of 100 feet, then you can pay a road maintenance fee of $1000 per year. If your road neighbors decide they can do better privately, they can opt out and arrange their own maintenance. No pay, no maintenance. That is better than no tax paid - we take your property.

Police. Ah, comrade, police are so important. You need them to protect you, especially since we make it illegal for you to protect yourself. And as we pollute your society, more bad elements flourish making protection so much more important.
My town has no police. When things happen, we pay a fee for state troopers or a nearby town police force. That all needs to be privatized to a large extent. What we have for laws is a collection of prison rules that you must obey or you will be labelled ineligible for privileges. Rights? Bad word. Governments will not acknowledge your rights or the God who made you with them inalienable.

Fire Dept. We have a volunteer fire & EMT dept. Privately funded... but laws are making it untenable for volunteers. The government must control all, you see.

Start thinking for your self and you will see the paths to freedom. Be fearful and take their poison shots and obey their tyrannical commands and don't mind those hands in your pockets.

And I'm sure you'll get some push back from the SJW-Lurker faction here but most certainly not from this paid-up member.

 

[zeker]

I remember my MIL when we took her to her local Wendy's in Ohio many years ago. She told the order guy that it was a to go order, even though we ate it there. Apparently it saved a few cents on the sales tax. To go's had a lower rate than dine in. She was real cheap.

I always ask for 'to go'

and eat it there

cuz I wont eat it all and need the bag to take it home.

never thot about taxes

 

[1911user]

This is the complete article, but ignore the first 75%. The important part is bolded at the end. The earliest it takes effect is the end of August 2024.

MODS: please update the thread title

Loading…

kfor.com

‘Largest single year tax cut in Oklahoma history:’
Gov. Stitt signs state grocery tax elimination into law

by: Kaylee Olivas/KFOR
Posted: Feb 27, 2024 / 05:30 PM CST
Updated: Feb 27, 2024 / 05:08 PM CST

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Governor Kevin Stitt has officially signed a total elimination of the state grocery tax into law.

The House passed a bill that would eliminate the state grocery tax during the 2023 legislative session, but the Senate didn’t move on it.

The proposal would not only eliminate the state tax, but also put a moratorium on local grocery and sales taxes that would prohibit cities from increasing those through June 2025.

The House’s version of this tax cut would also take effect immediately once signed into law.

On Thursday, the Senate decided to drop the emergency clause that would have provided immediate relief.

“The reason we didn’t do the emergency – there’s some ramp up time for these vendors, these stores, these privately owned grocery stores to be able to change their systems, to be able to accommodate this, and also for the tax commission to promulgate rules. It just made sense,” previously said Pro Tem Treat.

With the delay in the tax cut being enforced, Speaker of the House Charles McCall (R-Atoka) said it will cost Oklahomans an additional $200 million.

The delay in the vote cost Oklahomans an estimated additional $374 million in taxes, and the lack of an emergency to immediately put the cuts in place will cost our citizens another $200 million, but Senate leadership did their best to at least secure passage. The House has sent several tax cuts to the Senate over the last three years only to have them stall and not be heard. Thankfully this legislation has finally passed after 332 days of waiting. Oklahomans are currently facing some of the worst inflation of the last three decades, and the Senate’s vote today means that help is finally on the way.
Speaker of the House Charles McCall (R-Atoka)

The state’s revenue is projected to decrease by $418 million with the state grocery tax cut.

The tax cut would save Oklahomans $700/year, according to Pro Tem Treat. It would account for slightly more than $13/week.

With the proposal passing both the House and Senate, it went to the Governor’s desk for a signature Tuesday morning.

“There are 13 states that tax groceries. To us in leadership, the grocery tax was one of the most regressive tax we have,” said Gov. Stitt. “Since 2019, I’ve been talking about eliminating this grocery tax. I get to deliver on that promise today by signing the largest single year tax cut in Oklahoma history.”

Additionally to having been one of 13 states to tax groceries, Oklahoma is one of five to tax those goods at maximum. Oklahoma’s current grocery sales tax is 4.5%.

“This has been a long time coming and I’m excited we were able to deliver on this promise,” said Pro Tem Treat.

Speaker McCall, House Minority Leader Rep. Cindy Munson (D-OKC), and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Kay Floyd (D-OKC) all echoed the same excitement.

Goods not prepared at the grocery store will not have a state sales tax attached, but food prepared and/or made in the grocery store will be taxed.

Although the Governor signed the elimination into law, it will not go into effect until 90 days after the legislative session adjourns for the year.

The earliest Oklahomans could see the tax cut is by the end of August.