Alabama should reduce the state sales tax on groceries again this year and work toward a sustainable solution to end the tax permanently, Alabama Arise members told legislators Thursday.

More than 200 Arise supporters gathered Thursday at the State House in Montgomery to show their support for untaxing groceries. The advocates urged state senators to support HB 386 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, which would reduce the state grocery tax from 3% to 2% beginning on Sept. 1. HB 386 passed the House 103-0 on Tuesday and now awaits Senate consideration.

“We’re here today to ask our lawmakers to continue what we started two years ago by reducing the state grocery tax again,” Alabama Arise board president Clyde Jones said at a news conference. “Reducing the grocery tax will make it easier for families across the state of Alabama to make ends meet. And it will be an important step toward our ultimate goal of untaxing groceries once and for all.”

The news conference was part of Arise’s annual Legislative Day. Photos from the event are available here. A video of the news conference is available here. (Remarks start at the 3:50 mark.)

Read the full news release on our Legislative Day news conference.