Alabama’s state grocery tax is a cruel tax on survival that drives many families deeper into poverty. That’s why Alabama Arise members have advocated for decades to eliminate it. The 2023 law reducing the state tax from 4% to 3% was a huge win for families across our state. Now we may be on the doorstep of another breakthrough.

Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, on Wednesday introduced HB 386. This bill would reduce the state sales tax on groceries from 3% to 2% beginning on Sept. 1. The Alabama House Democrats also endorsed forthcoming legislation to end the state grocery tax during a news conference Wednesday.

“Alabama Arise is excited to see widespread, bipartisan support for reducing the state sales tax on groceries," Arise executive director Robyn Hyden said in a statement released Thursday. "The grocery tax reduction in 2023 was an essential first step toward tax justice in Alabama, and we look forward to working with lawmakers to continue the progress on this vital issue this year."

“Further reducing and ultimately eliminating the state sales tax on groceries would provide meaningful help for Alabamians who struggle to make ends meet. Reducing the grocery tax benefits every Alabamian. And it is an important step toward righting the wrongs of our state’s upside-down tax system, which forces Alabamians with low and moderate incomes to pay a higher share of their incomes in state and local taxes than the wealthiest households."

Read our full statement on this exciting development here.