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Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri House Bill 2568 exempts retail food sales from state sales tax starting January 1, 2027
Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsor: David Tyson Smith
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What This Bill Would Do
Beginning January 1, 2027, Missouri eliminates the state sales and on retail food sales, subject to a three-year that reinstates the prior one percent tax unless the General Assembly reauthorizes the exemption.
Grocery shoppers across Missouri will pay zero state tax on eligible food items starting in 2027, reducing state revenue allocated to the school district trust fund unless the legislature acts to extend the exemption.
- Missouri currently levies a one percent state sales tax on retail sales of food, with revenues directed to the school district trust fund. context
- The Missouri sunset act governs the periodic review and expiration of specific statutory programs and exemptions unless explicitly reauthorized. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Grocery shoppers
School districts
Revenue previously deposited into the school district trust fund from the one percent food sales tax will cease during the exemption period.
Food retailers
Stores selling food must adjust their point-of-sale systems to exclude state tax on eligible food items while continuing to collect applicable local taxes.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this bill eliminate local grocery taxes?
What qualifies as food under this tax exemption?
How long will the tax exemption last?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- May 15, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Emerging Issues(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 22, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Temporary State Food Tax Repeal
The bill shifts from a longstanding one percent tax on food sales to a temporary zero-tax policy subject to legislative reauthorization.
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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