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State sales tax on groceries likely to stay. Senate panel defeats bill after it had passed the full House.

Related Topics: Grocery store, Bill (law), Sales tax

After the Utah House approved wiping out the state sales tax on food, the Senate make quick work of the reform — defeating the measure in its first committee hearing before ever reaching the floor for debate.

Just a year after legislators seriously considered raising the sales tax on food, the Utah House voted 42-27 on Tuesday to eliminate the state’s share of the levy.

Representatives passed HB148 to erase the state’s current 1.7 percent sales tax on unprepared foods. But it would raise the state’s portion of sales tax on everything else from 4.7 percent to 4.