Call to end Utah food sales tax grows louder, but will lawmakers take it up?

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KUTV) — The call to do away with the Utah sales tax on food is getting louder as two lawmakers planned to hold a bipartisan news conference to advocate for the issue, and as the Utah Republican Party voiced their support for it over the weekend.

But it’s unclear if lawmakers will even take up the issue.

The ball is currently with the House of Representatives, which plans to begin debating a tax cut measure later this week. That bill – which the Senate passed last week – includes an income tax cut and some tax exemptions for business expenses.

The House plans to add to it, but Republican leaders there have not embraced getting rid of the food tax or supporting a grocery tax credit pitched by Gov. Spencer Cox.

House leadership declined to comment Monday when asked by KUTV 2News about the state GOP’s recent resolution on reducing or eliminating the food sales tax, or about plans for a news conference by Rep. Rosemary Lesser (D-Ogden) and Rep. Judy Weeks Rohner (R-West Valley City) Tuesday morning to push for ending the food tax.

Senate Republican leaders have also been reluctant to tackle the food sales tax. During a media availability Monday afternoon, they signaled that had not changed. They said they are more supportive of plans to spend $25 million or so on an earned income tax credit for lower-income families. They also want to pursue a social security tax cut.

“If we’re looking at what’s the ultimate goal of the food tax credit – if it’s to help the lower-income households, then are there other ways we can do that?” said Sen. Kirk Cullimore (R-Sandy), who serves as Senate majority assistant whip. “If we can have the same effect with a different avenue – can we help those lower-income households – I think ultimately that’s what everybody’s looking to try to do, and we’re just trying to find the right path for that.”

Sen. Luz Escamilla (D-Salt Lake City), acting Senate minority leader, said her caucus supports an earned income tax credit but would like to see the food sales tax addressed.

Escamilla said the impact from removing the food sales tax is “immediate” and can help families for whom an additional $5 at the checkout is a “deal breaker.”

“We’re just focusing on addressing the needs of those families,” Escamilla said.

The legislative session runs through March 4.