(The Center Square) – The group TakeItBack delivered 25,000 petition signatures to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office Wednesday in hopes of getting the elimination of state grocery taxes before the voters in November.
Gov. Kristi Noem pushed for the removal of the state sales tax on food in 2023 but a measure did not make it out of the South Dakota Legislature. A reduction in the sales tax from 4.5% to 4.2% was approved by lawmakers in 2023 through fiscal year 2026, but a bill that would have made the cuts permanent died in the 2024 legislature
“Removing the state’s sales tax on groceries is a crucial step towards addressing food insecurity and promoting economic fairness in our state. Governor Noem appeared to have understood that and made repealing the state’s grocery tax the number one priority of her re-election campaign. Unfortunately, even with a 94-11 Republican dominated legislature, she failed so we are going directly to the voters,” said Rick Weiland, co-founder of TakeItBack.
The group needed 17,508 signatures to get on the ballot.
“We are excited to be in the position, with the support of 195 South Dakota local unions and 7000 union members, to submit over 25,000 signatures from the citizens of South Dakota today, knowing we only need 17,508 valid signatures to qualify,” Weiland said.
The South Dakota State Federation of Labor AFL-CIO said Wednesday it supports the measure.
“Our low-income working families are struggling, with some spending up to 30% of their household income to feed their families,” said B.J. Motley, President of the South Dakota State Federation of Labor AFL-CIO and of the Local 304a of the United Food and Commercial Workers. “The overwhelming support from the people of our state underscores the urgency and necessity of repealing this regressive tax.”
South Dakota is one of only 12 states that taxes groceries. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill in February removing the tax in that state. The law takes effect in August.
