With Mississippi’s seven-percent sales tax on groceries ranking the highest in the nation, state lawmakers have debated proposals to reduce the rate in the past.
HB 964, which would exempt food and beverages purchased at grocery stores from being taxed, was introduced to the House on Jan. 17. However, the bill died in committee on Feb. 22.
In the Senate, SB 2707, which served the same purpose as HB 964, was introduced, but also died in committee.
Nevertheless, Representative Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven, contends that grocery tax reduction or elimination is so popular amongst her peers in the House, that if another bill addressing the topic were enacted, it would pass rather swiftly.
“I think it would pass tomorrow, or this afternoon,” Currie said on MidDays with Gerard Gibert.
The grocery tax is not alone in measures untouched by the House. According to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Trey Lamar, the chamber has not offered any legislation that would speed up the elimination of the income tax, despite an endorsement from Governor Tate Reeves and Speaker Philip Gunn.
On the Senate side, a measure that would establish a tax rebate fund, which was supported by Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, died in the finance committee.
Watch the full interview with Currie below.
