After both the Kansas House and Senate passed a gradual elimination of the state’s food sales tax earlier this week, Governor Laura Kelly says she will sign the bill.
The governor has been pushing for totally eliminating the 6.5-percent tax, but she says the action taken by lawmakers “is a win for every single Kansan.” Both Kelly, a Democrat, and her main Republican challenger in this election cycle, Attorney General Derek Schmidt, have supported ending the tax.
House Bill 2016 is set to take effect on New Year’s Day, reducing the tax to 4 percent. The rate will then be cut to 2 percent on Jan. 1, 2024 and then be eliminated on New Year’s Day 2025. With prices rising due to increased inflation, Governor Kelly is asking lawmakers to start reducing the tax this upcoming July instead of next year.
