From the Desk of Rep. John Talley, District 33
(OK House of Representatives) — House Bill 1955 goes into effect on August 29 and eliminates the 4.5% state grocery tax. This step provides much-needed financial relief for Oklahomans and underscores our commitment to easing the financial burden on our residents. I was so proud to vote for this bill that has been a long time coming.
This historic tax cut marks the largest single-year reduction in the state’s history, saving the average Oklahoman around $105.79 and even more for families. This financial buffer is incredibly important for people living paycheck-to-paycheck or on a fixed income, especially when faced with the challenges of inflation. With grocery prices rising faster than many other expenses, any fluctuation in pricing stresses families’ budgets.
While HB1955 eliminates the state portion of the grocery tax, local and county sales taxes will be unaffected. These local taxes are essential for funding important services, such as local fire departments, emergency medical services, police, and more. Additionally, not every food item is covered. Ready-to-eat prepared foods, like those at convenience store counters, heated foods, and grocery deli items, will still be taxed. A full list of tax-exempt items may be found at Oklahoma.gov/tax.html.
I am so proud to see this bill take effect and return money to our constituents.
I also want to congratulate my grandson Stran Talley for placing second in the very first Oklahoma State Finals for the National Civics Bee!
The Oklahoma State Chamber partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to host this first-of-its-kind statewide civics bee competition for sixth, seventh and eighth graders from across Oklahoma. The competition started last spring as a regional competition, with an essay submitted of a platform topic that students believed was a serious concern for their community.
Five student finalists from across the state competed in the State Finals on Wednesday in Oklahoma City, and two of them were from Stillwater: Stran and Harry Wang! The overall winner was Cullen Perez, an eighth grader from Lawton MacArthur Middle School, and he’ll soon compete in the national competition in Washington, D.C.
This is a fun way to get more students engaged in civics and interested in their government. I want to thank the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for beginning this program in 2022 and the Oklahoma State Chamber for promoting and implementing the contest in our state for the first time this year.
As always, please call my office at (405) 557-7304 or email me at [email protected] if there’s anything I can help with. Thank you for the honor of representing our district!
