Image Credit: Walmart / CC & capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A Tennessee grocery tax elimination bill is scheduled to be heard in the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee on February 4th, 2026.
A similar bill was set to be heard in the same subcommittee last year but stalled when it was placed behind the budget at the end of the legislative session.
Representative Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill-District 92) is the sponsor of House Bill 1530 (HB1530) which aims to exempt food and food ingredients from state sales tax.
Tennessee is one of just ten states that taxes groceries. Consumers pay 4% in state taxes and local governments are allowed to add up to 2.75% if they so choose.
Warner’s bill would repeal the state’s portion of the tax beginning July 1st but local governments could still set their own grocery tax. Items that would not be exempted from the state tax include prepared foods, alcohol, candy, tobacco, and diapers.
According to House Majority Leader William Lamberth, last year’s bill was stymied due to budgetary concerns but affirms that Republicans are committed to addressing the issue.
Lamberth believes cutting the grocery tax is possible this year without finding other revenue with which to replace it, however, the state is anticipating a difficult budget, in part due to the GOP’s intent to expand the Education Freedom Scholarship program. Republicans have also promised to more aggressively address illegal immigration.
If seeing sales tax on grocery tax eliminated is important to you, you may want to reach out to members of the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee before their scheduled meeting.
As the bill currently has no Senate sponsor, you might also contact your state senator to ask them to consider sponsoring the bill.
Contact information for all representatives on the House subcommittee may be found below.
Rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kip.capley@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov; rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
4 Responses
Diapers won’t be exempt? With a declining birth rate in the US we shouldn’t be increasing the cost of raising a family.
I’m not a fan of disposable diapers but there are better ways to deal with that.
“Items that would not be exempted from the state tax include prepared foods, alcohol, candy, tobacco, and diapers.” I can understand why on prepared foods, alcohol, candy and tobacco…. but diapers??? If the big push is to encourage young couples to have kids because of the big growth slow down… then why are we taxing the baby shiiiit catchers out of them??? SMH Sometimes I truly believe their heads are up their…….
Emailed committee, “Please vote yes.
What we NEED is no tax on healthy food and tax on junk increased to cover difference.”
Leave the diapers, exclude junk foods like chips.