The elimination of the state's 4% sales tax on groceries is expected to come up this legislative session.
Arthur Orr, a state senator for Limestone, Madison, and Morgan Counties, intends to file a bill in the coming weeks that would phase out the state's sales tax on certain foods. The tax would be reduced by one percent each year or every other year until it is gone.
"I'd love it, it would save a lot of money. Taxes are just way too high," said Elaine Tharp, a shopper in Tuscaloosa.
People have their own reasons they'd like to see the state's sales tax on groceries eliminated.
"I'm on a fixed income and there's a lot of people that are on a fixed income," said Tharp. "I think it would really help, I hope it passes."
"It's hard for me because I'm a single parent and I don't receive any assistance. Everything's going up except for the pay. It would be great," said Shenicca Long, another shopper.
The bill wouldn't apply to all foods. If passed, items that wouldn't be taxed are defined by the Women, Infants, and Children Food Nutrition Service, which would include fresh produce, dairy, eggs, and other essentials.
"Those are the most expensive items at this time. Eggs went up so high. Tremendously," said Long. "Maybe they will work on it to get everything. Just do away with it altogether."
"It'll help but it ought to apply to all foods. People still shopping. Kids like their treats. It should have everything included," said Harrison Brown.
Senator Orr explained limiting the tax reduction to WIC-approved items would control the impact on the state's Education Trust Fund. For just essential food, it could mean at least $240 million to $260 million less to the fund. Orr said to include all foods, it could be a $700 million to $800 million loss.
Spreading the tax reduction over time is also important to maintain the budget.
"We can't afford a $250 million plus or minus hit to the education budget in one year. It's just too much and would cause a lot of difficulties particularly when we are very concerned about the economy going forward," said Orr.
Growth in the economy could make up for any funds lost by the tax reduction.
"Presumably, the economy will grow over that period of years so that we can replace the lost grocery tax revenue with revenues that are increased through the normal growth of increased sales across the state, whether that be sales taxes or incomes taxes that also support the education budget," said Orr.
The reduction could be paused if revenues for the state don't increase by 2% from year to year. However, once the tax is gone, it cannot be raised again.
The bill would also limit a local government's ability to increase its sales tax on WIC-approved food.
Orr believed technology could be what moved the bill forward this year after years of attempts from many state lawmakers.
"Technology was really not there for grocers to be able to scan and handle what foods are tax-exempt at the state level and which ones aren't," he said. "Technology has caught up with most, not all, but most grocery stores are using the scanners and they don't see a problem once they program the very well-known WIC definition in. They don't see a problem with removing the tax on those particular items at the cash register."
Another reason it could work out this year is the $3 billion surplus to the state's budget.
Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth met with the Alabama Grocer's Association Wednesday. In a tweet, he said they worked on outlining a way to reduce sales tax on groceries.
Orr said the bill could be filed as soon as this week, but no later than the first week of April.