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Fact Sheet
Explaining Alabama’s state grocery tax reduction: What it covers and what it doesn’t
The sales tax may seem less visible than other taxes because we pay it in small bits, unlike once-a-year property and income tax payments. But in reality, the sales tax is the most regressive of Alabama’s three major state taxes (income, property and sales). It consumes a much greater portion of the household budget for [...]
Blog
Alabama’s grocery tax reduction now in effect
Alabama has taken an important first step toward untaxing groceries. HB 479 took effect Sept. 1, reducing the state sales tax on groceries from 4% to 3%. The law will reduce the tax by another percentage point as soon as September 2024, as long as Education Trust Fund (ETF) revenues grow by at least 3.5% [...]
Newsletter
June 2023 newsletter
The June 2023 newsletter features a recap of the 2023 Alabama legislative session as well as coverage from our Legislative Day.
Blog
Arise legislative update: June 7, 2023
The Alabama Legislature's 2023 regular session has come to a close. Arise's Akiesha Anderson takes us through some big wins – including reducing the state's grocery tax! – and other highlights from the session. We want to thank you for speaking out to support good bills and oppose harmful bills. Please visit alarise.org and follow [...]
News Releases
Grocery tax reduction bill’s passage is a win for every Alabamian
The Alabama Senate voted 31-0 Thursday to pass HB 479, a bill to reduce the state sales tax on groceries beginning Sept. 1. The bill now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden released the following statement Thursday in response: “Reducing the state sales tax on groceries will provide meaningful help [...]
Blog
Arise legislative update: May 30, 2023
As the Alabama Legislature's 2023 regular session begins to wind down, Arise's Carol Gundlach looks at the House passage of HB 479, a major breakthrough on our longtime goal of reducing the state sales tax on groceries. She also discusses four major budget bills headed to the governor's desk.
Fact Sheet
How will the grocery tax reduction law (HB 479) benefit every Alabamian?
HB 479 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, is a grocery tax reduction law that will benefit every Alabamian. Gov. Kay Ivey signed it into law June 15 after it passed the House 103-0 and the Senate 31-0. Below is a look at the principles that make a grocery tax reform bill good, what the new [...]
Letters & Testimony
Alabama Arise testimony in support of untaxing groceries
Alabama Arise's Robyn Hyden testified Wednesday before the House Ways and Means Education Committee in support of a bill to reduce the state sales tax on groceries. HB 479, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, would reduce the state grocery tax from 4% to 2% over time. It also would make this cut contingent on [...]
Blog
Arise legislative update: May 22, 2023
Arise's Akiesha Anderson shares some good news from last week's action at the Alabama Legislature. Those breakthroughs include the introduction of a House bill to reduce the state grocery tax, with nearly every representative joining as a co-sponsor. We also saw progress on several criminal justice reform bills, including the passage of SB 154, which [...]
Fact Sheet
Why Arise supports HB 479 / SB 257, a good plan to untax groceries in Alabama
SB 257 by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, and HB 479 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, are grocery tax reduction bills that would benefit every Alabamian. Below is a look at the principles that make a grocery tax reform bill good, what the bills do and what Alabamians need next. What makes a grocery tax reform [...]