'Relief is coming:' Bill to lower grocery tax heads to governor's desk with overwhelming support

IT’S NO SECRET THE COST OF EVERYTHING IS GOING UP THESE DAYS, BUT A BILL HEADED TO GOVERNOR KAY IVEY DESK COULD SOON BRING YOU SOME RELIEF. THANKS FOR JOINING US AT SIX. I’M SHERI FALK. I’M GUY RAWLINGS. THAT RELIEF WILL HELP EVERYONE WHO EATS FOOD. SO EVERYONE �� 13 AARON LEWELLYN TELLS US HOW WILL SOON BE SAVING MONEY ON OUR GROCERY BILLS. SHOPPERS SAY AS THEY’RE WALKING AROUND GROCERY STORES AND DOING THEIR REGULAR GROCERY SHOPPING, THEY’RE NOTICING THAT EVERYDAY ITEMS THAT THEY USE ARE BECOMING MORE EXPENSIVE. BUT WITH THIS NEW BILL, THEY’RE EXCITED TO HELP IS ON THE WAY SOON. PROGRESS IS A LITTLE SLOW, BUT I’M THANKFUL THAT EVERY LITTLE BIT OF HELP WE THE PEOPLE ARE GETTING A TAX CUT ON GROCERIES WILL SOON SAVE SHOPPERS ACROSS THE STATE SOME MONEY. ORIGINALLY, WE WERE ONLY ONE OF THREE THAT HAD NO REDUCTION, SO I’M VERY PROUD OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND WHAT WE’RE DOING TO TRY TO HELP FAMILIES AND HELP FAMILIES AFFORD FOOD. I MEAN, THAT’S AN ESSENTIAL THING THAT FAMILIES EVERY FAMILY NEEDS. HOUSE BILL 386 WILL LOWER THE SALES TAX ON GROCERIES FROM 3 TO 2% OF. EXPERIENCED LIVING IN OTHER PLACES, AND I JUST WONDER WHY I WAS THEIR TAXES ON FOOD WHEN I’VE EXPERIENCED IT. NO TAX. WHILE THE BILL WON’T MAKE GROCERIES TAX FREE, SHOPPERS LIKE CONSTANCE WASHINGTON WILL NOTICE A DECREASE ON THEIR RECEIPT. INFLATION. THE TARIFFS COST OF LIVING GOING UP. JOBS ARE NOT PAYING OUR WORTH. YOU KNOW, IT JUST COMPOUNDING. FOR EVERY PERCENTAGE TAKEN OFF. THAT’S $125 SHOPPERS COULD SAVE EVERY YEAR. I’M NOT GOING TO SAY, OOH, WE NEED SOMETHING ELSE. I’M GOING TO TAKE IT UP AS LORD, THANK YOU FOR THE LITTLE CHANGE WE ARE GETTING IN. FAIRFIELD AARON LEWELLYN. �� 13. AND ACCORDING TO LENDINGTREE, GROCERY SHOPPERS IN ALABAMA SPEND MORE THAN $6,700 A YEAR ON FOOD AT HOME.

Updated: 9:26 AM CDT May 8, 2025

Editorial Standards ��

'Relief is coming:' Bill to lower grocery tax heads to governor's desk with overwhelming support

Updated: 9:26 AM CDT May 8, 2025

Editorial Standards ��

It’s no secret prices are going up for everything, but a new bill is heading to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk that could save you money.The State Senate passed House Bill 386 on Tuesday after passing the House in March. Now, when you shop for groceries, the sales tax will be cheaper. Instead of paying 3%, you can now expect to pay 2%.This would be the second statewide tax cut on groceries. There was another 1% cutback in 2023. For every percentage that’s taken off, that’s $125 that shoppers could keep in their pockets every year. That’s according to Ellie Taylor with the Alabama Grocers�� Association. She said a family of four would save about $250 every year with the tax cut and estimates that it could be another week of groceries.“It definitely will help Alabamians,�� Taylor said. “We all know that food prices have gone up in the last several years due to lots of factors. Everything from tariffs to food pricing to inflation to all these different things that have caused the prices to go up, and so families are definitely going to see some relief.”The bill passed the Senate unanimously with a 34-0 vote. Some feel this shows how necessary the bill is to help families out, especially because one in four children and one in five adults are food insecure. That’s according to Alabama Public Health. Now, HB 386 would also allow cities and counties across the state to lower their taxes on groceries, too.“Even though I was born and raised here, I came back to Alabama,�� shopper Constance Washington said. “I’ve experienced living in other places, and I just wondered why was there taxes on food when I’ve experienced no tax. Progress is a little slow, but I’m thankful for every little bit of help we, the people, are getting.”Now that the Senate passed the bill, it will head to the governor’s desk. If it’s signed, it’s scheduled to go into effect on Sept. 1. According to AARP, Alabama is one of 10 states still charging a grocery tax. The Grocers�� Association said while progress is being made, it could be a little while before groceries are tax-free.>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

It’s no secret prices are going up for everything, but a new bill is heading to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk that could save you money.

The State Senate passed on Tuesday after passing the House in March. Now, when you shop for groceries, the sales tax will be cheaper. Instead of paying 3%, you can now expect to pay 2%.

This would be the second statewide tax cut on groceries. There was another 1% cutback in 2023. For every percentage that’s taken off, that’s $125 that shoppers could keep in their pockets every year. That’s according to Ellie Taylor with the . She said a family of four would save about $250 every year with the tax cut and estimates that it could be another week of groceries.

“It definitely will help Alabamians,�� Taylor said. “We all know that food prices have gone up in the last several years due to lots of factors. Everything from tariffs to food pricing to inflation to all these different things that have caused the prices to go up, and so families are definitely going to see some relief.��

The bill passed the Senate unanimously with a 34-0 vote. Some feel this shows how necessary the bill is to help families out, especially because one in four children and one in five adults are food insecure. That’s according to Alabama Public Health. Now, HB 386 would also allow cities and counties across the state to lower their taxes on groceries, too.

“Even though I was born and raised here, I came back to Alabama,�� shopper Constance Washington said. “I’ve experienced living in other places, and I just wondered why was there taxes on food when I’ve experienced no tax. Progress is a little slow, but I’m thankful for every little bit of help we, the people, are getting.��

Now that the Senate passed the bill, it will head to the governor’s desk. If it’s signed, it’s scheduled to go into effect on Sept. 1.

According to AARP, Alabama is one of 10 states still charging a grocery tax. The Grocers�� Association said while progress is being made, it could be a little while before groceries are tax-free.

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'Relief is coming:' Bill to lower grocery tax heads to governor's desk with overwhelming support

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