POLITICS + GOVERNMENT

Bill introduced to remove state-imposed food sales tax

Feb 14, 2023, 2:00 PM
a sign opposing utah food tax is pictured...
“More Bread for Utahns!” members rally to repeal Utah’s grocery sales tax at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. (Laura Seitz/Deseret News)
(Laura Seitz/Deseret News)

SALT LAKE CITY — A bill has been introduced to do away with sales tax on food, but the road forward for the bill might be winding.

What exactly would the bill do?

The bill, H.B. 101, would remove the taxes on food that are imposed by the state. That said, city and county taxes would remain as they are. 

Rep. Judy Weeks-Rohner, R-West Valley, joined KSL at Night to discuss the bill, which she is sponsoring.

Rohner said the state-imposed taxes make up just 1.75%, which she called a “small amount” compared to the total state budget.

The bill would not touch the city and county-imposed food taxes.

“We have no intention of touching that at all. We understand how important those dollars are to maintaining the city’s infrastructure,” Rohner said.

But the bill is important to pass, Rohner said, especially to aid those in need.

Food banks are overwhelmed, inflation continues to be an issue and people are having to go to extra lengths to make ends meet for food costs, Rohner said.

“It needs to be done. It needs to be done this year.”

Removing food sales tax might not be straightforward

A similar bill, H.B. 172 from Rep. Rosemary Lesser, D-Ogden, has also been introduced.

A key difference in Lesser’s bill though is that candy would still have state-imposed food sales tax on it.

But Rohner doesn’t have an issue with the similar natures of the two bills.

“We don’t care whose bill gets, you know, the name on it. That’s not that’s not important. What we need to do is make sure that we have the removal of the food tax,” Rohner said.

As another bump in the road for the bill, as reported by Deseret News, there’s talk from Republican leaders about removing food tax on the condition that the earmark on income tax for education is removed.

The state constitution currently requires that a large amount of Utah income tax go toward public education.

Rohner said she hasn’t been a part of any discussions about pairing the two changes, but said that if done right, it could be a success.

“If we do do this and we do it properly, the removal of the food tax could be handled. They would be able to still fund education the way it should be,” Rohner said, adding “We would be able to help, especially the working class citizens in the state.”

Listen to the full KSL at Night Segment:

 

Eye on the Hill:

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Today’s Top Stories

Politics + Government

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks about health care and prescription drug costs at the University o...
Jeremy Diamond, CNN

White House to disband Covid-19 response team in May

(CNN) — The White House will disband its coronavirus response team after the Covid-19 public health emergency ends in May, a current and former official said. The team, led most recently by Dr. Ashish Jha, has begun to dwindle in recent months as the administration has started to shift its response to the virus from […]
10 hours ago
Former President Donald Trump (left) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are pictured here in a split ima...
Steve Contorno, CNN

With Trump facing legal peril, DeSantis steps out and sharpens attacks

(CNN) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has stylized himself as a political brawler willing to take on all comers, from Disney and the corporate media to high school students wearing masks. But his brewing battle with Donald Trump was for months a one-sided affair. That changed this week when DeSantis for the first time leaned into the burgeoning rivalry in earnest. In […]
10 hours ago
Utah's Attorney General has sent a letter to the federal government claiming climate investing, or ...
Lindsay Aerts

Utah AG claims ESG or ‘climate investing’ contributed to SVB collapse

The AG's office believes Silicon Valley Bank, SVB, made "speculative sustainability investments," involving ESG in the solar industry.
1 day ago
Members of the 117th Congress were ranked by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, and a Utah lawmake...
Simone Seikaly

Utah lawmakers rank in top 10 ‘most effective’ GOP members of Congress

The Utah lawmakers, Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. John Curtis were ranked eighth and ninth most effective Republican lawmakers.
1 day ago
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a Save America rally in October of 2022 in Warren, Mich...
Kristen Holmes, CNN

Trump and his advisers await potential indictment in hush money case

(CNN) — Behind the gilded doors of Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump has toyed with the idea of creating a media spectacle around his potential indictment, both celebrated how it will help him politically and complained about how “unfair” it is, and at times ignored the prospect of criminal charges altogether, sources close to him told CNN. Two […]
1 day ago
Sen Lee debates formula...
Mark Jones

Sen. Lee shares insights in recent visit with Mexico’s president

Utah Sen. Mike Lee joined inside Sources with Boyd Matheson to discuss a recent visit he along with seven other senators and four congressmen had with the president of Mexico.
2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Cheerful young woman writing an assignment while sitting at desk between two classmates during clas...
BYU EMBA at the Marriott School of Business

Hear it Firsthand: 6 Students Share Their Executive MBA Experience at BYU’s Marriott School of Business

The Executive MBA program at BYU offers great opportunities. Hear experiences straight from students enrolled in the program.
Skier being towed by a rider on a horse. Skijoring....
Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking for a new winter activity? Try skijoring in Bear Lake

Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. The driver leads the skiers through an obstacle course over jumps, hoops, and gates.
Banner with Cervical Cancer Awareness Realistic Ribbon...
Intermountain Health

Five common causes of Cervical Cancer – and what you can do to lower your risk

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness month and cancer experts at Intermountain Health are working to educate women about cervical cancer.
Kid holding a cisco fish at winterfest...
Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for fun at the 2023 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest

The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy.
happy friends with sparklers at christmas dinner...
Macey's

15 easy Christmas dinner ideas

We’ve scoured the web for you and narrowed down a few of our favorite Christmas dinner ideas to make your planning easy.
Spicy Homemade Loaded Taters Tots...
Macey's

5 Game Day Snacks for the Whole Family (with recipes!)

Try these game day snacks to make watching football at home with your family feel like a special occasion. 
Bill introduced to remove state-imposed food sales tax