Legislation has been filed today to implement another major component of Gov. Mike Beebe’s legislative package.

Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle, has filed Senate Bill 88 to reduce the state sales tax on groceries by another penny. The reduction would go into effect July 1 if approved by the Legislature.

The governor pledged  the cut in his state-of-the-state address earlier this week, to go along with action he  and the Legislature took in 2007 to lower the food tax from 6 cents to 3 cents. The proposed reduction would take the grocery tax to 2 cents on the dollar.  

The governor says today he’s pleased the legislation has been filed, and that he is particularly glad 25 to 30 senators have signed on as co-sponsors. 

Beebe says he has no preference on when lawmakers should take up the matter. Beebe says the House has indicated it will probably consider his 56-cent cigarette tax increase  proposal first. 

“I’ve told the speaker that’s fine with me,” Beebe said. “Sen. Glover has said he wants to pursue the grocery tax and that’s fine with me.”

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