Biasiucci Pushes Forward on Statewide Elimination of Municipal Grocery Taxes Under ‘Affordable Arizona’ Proposal By Holly Dietrich | Arizona Globe

PHOENIX – State Representative Leo Biasiucci (R-30) continued to push legislation eliminating municipalities’ ability to tax groceries, presenting the proposal as a cost-of-living adjustment for families and Arizonans struggling to make ends meet.

House Bill HB2839 prohibits cities, towns, and other local jurisdictions from applying transaction privilege taxes on goods meant for human consumption. The bill relies on existing statutory definitions used for SNAP and WIC programs, extending those exemptions universally to all citizens rather than providing relief solely to program recipients.

While qualifying food purchases are already exempt from the state-level transaction privilege tax, HB2839 aims to remove the additional layer of local levies, which vary by municipality and can add several percentage points to families’ already significant grocery bills.

Biasucci framed it as a fairness issue in recent public statements, arguing that providing relief only to SNAP and WIC recipients creates an uneven system that excludes many middle-class working families struggling with grocery costs. He described the municipal grocery tax as regressive and disproportionately affecting average-income households and those on a fixed income who do not qualify for assistance programs but still face rising expenses.

Supporters estimate that eliminating local grocery taxes could save families several hundred dollars per year, depending on household size and municipal tax rates. Biasiucci has branded the effort as part of a wider “Affordable Arizona” angle this session, which shifts the focus to reducing everyday living expenses rather than creating new, costly subsidy programs.

The popular bill has attracted bipartisan cosponsors, and Biasiucci has cited Gov. Katie Hobbs’ State of the State address, in which she called for tax relief, as evidence that the issue transcends party lines.

Despite the support for the bill at the state level, early opposition is emerging from municipal governments, according to the current Request to Speak records. Records show that Oro Valley and Goodyear are the only registered opponents of the bill thus far, but others are expected to join them. Their concerns are expected to focus on lost revenue and legislative preemption of local taxing authority.

HB2839 will likely highlight whether the bipartisan rhetoric on affordability translates into concrete action, with Republican lawmakers continuing to signal openness to collaboration.