NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Healthy eating could come with a smaller price tag in Tennessee if a bill to cut the state’s grocery tax on fruits and vegetables passes.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) and Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) would eliminate the 4% grocery tax on fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables.
“The bottom line is this: people are already struggling to make ends meet,” Sen Akbari said. “They’re trying their best, they’re working, a lot of them are members of the working poor, and they face constant increases on healthcare, housing, gas, and even food. The basic necessities folks need to survive.”
The bill was supposed to be debated in its first House subcommittee Tuesday, but it was deferred to next week.
Both Democrats and Republicans also have their own bills to cut the grocery tax on all items, but the Speaker of the House, Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) told journalists he doesn’t believe an entire cut would pass.
“If you want to look at milk and eggs and butter and bread, let’s have a conversation, but to say we’re going to repeal the whole grocery tax and we want to give someone a tax break for someone for buying a Snickers bar over here or a frozen pizza, yeah, I don’t foresee that,” Speaker Sexton said.
Grocery shoppers told News 2 any kind of grocery tax cut would help.
“I think it’ll go a long way on helping folks who are struggling right now with inflation and everything that’s happening in the world,” Richard Donnell, who lives in Nashville, said.
“I would be saving a great cost,” Neva Garnerharding, who lives in Nashville, said. “I’d be saving about $200 to $300.”
