Image Credit: Speaker Cameron Sexton / Facebook.
Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
With cost-of-living concerns remaining a high priority for constituents across the state, Republican leadership has promised to make the issue central to this upcoming legislative session after failing to address the grocery tax during the 2026 session. To that end, the first bill on the topic has been filed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, though it would only affect a few select goods.
HB0006 would exempt the retail sale of milk, eggs, and bread “for human consumption” from the 4% food retail sales tax.
Several bills proposing various grocery tax exemptions or eliminations were introduced during the last session by members of both parties, but not one made it to the House or Senate floor.
Some were sidelined early on while others died on the last day as they were still sitting in the Finance, Ways, and Means Committees.
The bills ranged from exempting certain fresh or processed products to eliminating the tax completely, and many picked up bipartisan support.
Only a bill allowing counties with metropolitan forms of government to lower or exempt food or ingredients from local sales tax was passed as it corrected a loophole that neglected metro areas from other already-existing legislation allowing cities to reduce or eliminate their own grocery taxes.
Rep. Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville-District 18), whose seat was flipped by a Democrat during the November election, issued a statement in response to the filing of HB0006, saying that while she will no longer be in the statehouse to contend for these policies herself, she is “encouraged” by the bill.
“Lowering the cost of groceries for Tennessee families has been a priority for mine throughout my time in the Tennessee General Assembly…I’ve long championed reducing, and ultimately eliminating, the grocery sales tax because I believe hardworking Tennesseans should be able to keep more of their hard-earned money. For families struggling with rising grocery bills, seniors on fixed incomes, and those simply trying to make ends meet, every dollar matters,” she wrote.
“Tax relief isn’t just good policy. It’s about making everyday life more affordable for Tennessee families…I’m proud to have advocated for grocery tax relief during my service in the legislature, and I’ll continue supporting efforts that put Tennessee families first!”
More bills will likely be filed on this subject, but how far Republican leadership is willing to yield beyond the limited exemptions proposed in HB0006 in providing cost of living relief for Tennesseans remains to be seen.
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About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
