Arkansas Governor Sanders pushes to eliminate grocery tax

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) -Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders reiterated in a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 21 that she wants to eliminate the grocery tax in Arkansas.

“We’re going to eliminate Arkansas’s most regressive tax, the grocery tax, and ease the burden of families trying to put food on their tables,” Sanders said.

The tax currently sits at an eighth of a cent, one of the lowest among states that still have a grocery tax. With the high cost of groceries, Jonesboro resident Jo Boyd believes eliminating this tax could make a difference.

“I mean we have to have groceries and they do cost more than they ever have ever. I don’t know how people make ends meet so alleviating some of that burden would be great,” Boyd said.

Boyd said she thinks it is a great idea even if it’s a small amount of help.

“The tax isn’t that much but you know every little bit helps, especially when you live on Social Security,” Boyd said. “A lot of folks live in Social Security without having any retirement or anything else.”

“We will have a productive session, helping families in Arkansas living the very best lives,” Sanders said. “We want to make sure that every single person growing up here can call this the best place possible to live, to work, and to raise their family.”

If the state of Arkansas were to eliminate the grocery tax, it would equal a small pay raise for everyone in Arkansas.

To report a typo or correction, please click here.

Copyright 2025 KAIT. All rights reserved.