Senate Approves Measure to Eliminate Grocery Tax

The State Senate has approved a measure to eliminate the 4.5 percent state sales tax on groceries. Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, is the author of Senate Bill 318. Mazzei said the bill would phase out the grocery tax over a five-year period. The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 38 to 8.

“We’re only one of about 16 states in the country that charges this tax. This is something we really need to consider for our own citizens,” Mazzei said. “Furthermore, this is money that families and individuals will put right back into our economy in other goods and services.”

Mazzei, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said city and counties would still be able to collect taxes and groceries, protecting resources for the services and programs they provide to citizens.

“This measure would benefit every single person in our state. I believe that as we work to increase efficiency in government and grow our economy, this is a realistic proposal that we need to continue working toward enacting,” Mazzei said.

The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for further deliberation.