Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
For Immediate Release: January 22, 2009
Sen. Randy Brogdon
Lawmakers File Legislation to Eliminate
Grocery Tax
Sen. Randy
Brogdon and Rep. Eric Proctor have filed legislation to end
Oklahoma’s state sales tax on groceries by July 1, 2009.
Brogdon, R-Owasso, is the principal author of Senate Bill 600,
which would end the 4.5 percent state sales tax on groceries.
The tax exemption would not apply to alcohol or tobacco products
since they are taxed at the wholesale level.
“If we want to pass tax relief that will genuinely help
every single person in Oklahoma, then we need to end the state
sales tax on groceries,” Brogdon said. “Families will
be able to use that savings to buy clothing or other necessities
for their children, and seniors already struggling on fixed incomes
would be able to purchase more of the things they need as well.
Those dollars will go right back into our economy.”
While local municipalities currently cannot levy a sales tax on
items exempted by the state, Brogdon stressed SB 600 would amend
that provision so that those entities could continue to collect
sales taxes on food and beverages if they so choose. “This
means local governments would still have that much-needed funding
source,” Brogdon said.
Proctor, D-Tulsa, will carry SB 600 in the House. He said it was
important to find ways to approve tax relief that will both help
Oklahomans have greater purchasing power and put more money into
local economies, “Senate Bill 600 will help us achieve both
goals,” Proctor said. “Thirty-one states and the District
of Columbia do not impose a sales tax on groceries. It’s
time for Oklahoma to eliminate this tax as well.”
“We are extremely proud to offer this bipartisan effort
to help the citizens of our state, especially during these difficult
financial times,” Brogdon said. “I hope that my fellow
legislators in both chambers will join us in supporting this measure.”
