Representative Ken Luttrell-Ponca City
By Rep. Ken Luttrell
The countdown to the elimination of the state grocery tax is in full swing, folks. Starting August 29, Oklahomans will be able to save money at the grocery store when the state portion of the tax is eliminated.
Did you know that groceries are the third largest household expense, with the average Oklahoma adult spending $2,852 on groceries annually? Unfortunately, prices for essential foods have been rising since 2019.
According to March 2024 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 60% of Oklahoma respondents reported having difficulty covering their regular household expenses in the past week. Federal data suggests that the price of a dozen eggs has doubled and a loaf of white bread now costs $1.96 – a 51% increase in just four years.
In response, the Oklahoma Legislature passed House Bill 1955 to eliminate the state sales tax on groceries, providing much-needed financial relief to those who need it most. However, certain items, such as ready-to-eat prepared foods, heated foods and deli items, are still subject to the tax. To determine which items are exempt from state sales tax, please visit Oklahoma.gov/tax.html.
The goal of this tax cut is to put more money in the pockets of Oklahomans and give them the freedom to spend their money however they want. Instead of dealing with complicated policies that take forever to make a difference, eliminating the state grocery tax will mean immediate savings for all Oklahomans. It is expected to return approximately $418 million to Oklahomans, saving each Oklahoman an average of $105.79 at the checkout each year.
While many states seek tax increases, Oklahoma has taken the opposite approach. Since my re-election in 2018, the legislature has cut the income tax from 5% to 4.75%, reduced the corporate tax, and now eliminated the state portion of the food sales tax.
This milestone in eliminating the state grocery tax is an important step toward providing financial relief to Oklahoma families. However, there is still much work to be done to reduce the tax burden on Oklahomans.
As always, thank you for electing me for District 37. It is a great honor and privilege to represent you in the State Capitol. As always, you can contact me anytime at 405-557-7355 or (email protected).
