Prohibits the taxation of food and the ingredients therein for any purpose

BILL NUMBER:S5292A

Title of bill

An act to amend the tax law, in relation to prohibiting the taxation of food and food products sold for human consumption

Purpose

To prohibit the taxation on food and the ingredients therein for any purpose.

Summary of provisions

Adds a new section 36 to the tax law prohibiting the taxation of food but does not apply to food that is sold or processed for on-premise consumption or alcoholic beverages.

Justification

As government budget spending and deficits continue to rise, government should not be raising taxes as families across the state are making tough decisions to balance their personal finances. As the state's fiscal crisis continues to get worse, what is stopping the New York State from taxing food items or ingredients in food to close its budget gap? By limiting government's ability to find new sources of revenue generating schemes, this bill slams the door on its power to look at the shelves of our neighborhood grocery stores for new taxes. This bill sends a strong message to taxpayers, and grocery and convenient store consumers that state government should not be taxing food or food ingredients that make up a food product which makes it more difficult to feed their family.

Legislative history

2011: S.5292 - Referred to Investigations 2010: S.8471 - Referred to Rules

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.