Missouri 2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 1017 — Authorizes a state sales tax exemption for food

Last action — SCS Voted Do Pass w/SCS SBs 1017 & 1239 Economic and Workforce Development Committee (4583S.04C)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced December 01, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 14% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

SCS/SBs 1017 & 1239 - Current law taxes retail sales of food, as defined in current law, at a rate of one percent. This act provides that retail sales of food shall be exempt from state sales taxes. (Section 144.014) This provision is identical to SB 688 (2025), SB 734 (2025), and SCS/SB 161 (2023), and to a provision in SB 57 (2025) and SCS/HCS/HB 154 (2023), and is substantially similar to SB 1656 (2026), HB 2079 (2026), HB 2253 (2026), HB 2568 (2026), SB 659 (2025), HB 345 (2025), HB 432 (2025), HB 872 (2025), HB 1587 (2025), HB 1418 (2024), HB 1464 (2024), HB 2174 (2024), HB 260 (2023), HB 452 (2023), HB 591 (2023), HB 896 (2023), HCS#2/HB 1992 (2022), HB 1817 (2022), and HB 2530 (2022), and to a provision in HB 1029 (2025), HB 2815 (2024), HB 2887 (2024), HB 377 (2023), HCS/HBs 876, 771, 676 & 551 (2023), HB 1136 (2023), HB 1779 (2022), and HB 2249 (2022). The act also provides that, of the 4% state sales tax rate, the revenue derived from a rate of 0.2% shall be deposited in the School District Trust Fund. (Section 144.020) These provisions are identical to provisions in SS/SCS/SB 1534 (2026). JOSH NORBERG

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

195 added · 47 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill SB 1017 now states that all retail sales of food will be fully exempt from the state sales tax instead of imposing a 1% tax rate that had been in effect since 1997. This change means that consumers will no longer pay any state sales tax on food purchases, which could make food more affordable for families. However, it's important to note that this exemption does not affect local sales taxes, which may still apply. Overall, the amendment aims to reduce the financial burden on people buying food.

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SECOND REGULAR SESSION SENATE BILLNO.
4583S.04C SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILLS NOS.
1017 103RD GENERALASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR LEWIS.
1017 & 1239 AN ACT To repeal sections 144.014 and 144.020, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to sales taxes.
4583S.01I KRISTINAMARTIN, Secretary ANACT To repeal section 144.014, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to a sales tax exemption for food.
Section 144.014, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 144.014, to read as follows:
Sections 144.014 and 144.020, RSMo, are repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 144.014 and 144.020, to read as follows:
The provisions of this subsection are intended to exempt the sale of food from the state sales tax rate imposed pursuant to this chapter, and the department of revenue shall not construe the provisions of this subsection as an exemption from the local sales tax law, as defined in section 32.085.
The provisions of this subsection are intended to exempt the sale of food from the state sales tax imposed pursuant to this chapter, and the department of revenue shall not construe the provisions of this subsection as an exemption from the local sales tax law, as defined in section 32.085.
As required in sections 43(a) and 47(a) of article IV of the Missouri constitution, the sales tax imposed pursuant to such sections shall be imposed upon the sales and services that are taxable pursuant to this chapter, which shall not include the retail sale of food as exempted in this section.
For the purposes of this section, the term "food" shall include only those products and types of food for EXPLANATION-Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in this bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted in the law.
For the purposes of this section, the term "food" shall include only those products and types of food for which food stamps may be redeemed pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Food Stamp Program as contained in 7 U.S.C.
SB 1017 2 which food stamps may be redeemed pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Food Stamp Program as contained in 7 U.S.C.
144.020.
1.
A tax is hereby levied and imposed for the privilege of titling new and used motor vehicles, trailers, boats, and outboard motors purchased or acquired for use on the highways or waters of this state which are required to be titled under the laws of the state of Missouri and, except as provided in subdivision (9) of this subsection, upon all sellers for the privilege of engaging in the business of selling tangible personal property or rendering taxable service at retail in this state.
The rate of tax shall be as follows:
(1) Upon every retail sale in this state of tangible personal property, excluding motor vehicles, trailers, motorcycles, mopeds, motortricycles, boats and outboard motors required to be titled under the laws of the state of Missouri and subject to tax under subdivision (9) of this subsection, a tax equivalent to four percent of the purchase price paid or charged, or in case such sale involves the exchange of property, a tax equivalent to four percent of the consideration paid or charged, including the fair market value of the property exchanged at the time and place of the exchange, except as otherwise provided in section 144.025;
(2) A tax equivalent to four percent of the amount paid for admission and seating accommodations, or fees paid to, or in any place of amusement, entertainment or recreation, games and athletic events, except amounts paid for any instructional class;
(3) A tax equivalent to four percent of the basic rate paid or charged on all sales of electricity or electrical current, water and gas, natural or artificial, to domestic, commercial or industrial consumers;
(4) (a) A tax equivalent to four percent on the basic rate paid or charged on all sales of local and long distance telecommunications service to telecommunications subscribers and to others through equipment of telecommunications subscribers for the transmission of messages and conversations and upon the sale, rental or leasing of all equipment or services pertaining or incidental thereto;
except that, the payment made by telecommunications subscribers or others, pursuant to section 144.060, and any amounts paid for access to the internet or interactive computer services shall not be considered as amounts paid for telecommunications services;
(b) If local and long distance telecommunications services subject to tax under this subdivision are aggregated with and not separately stated from charges for telecommunications service or other services not subject to tax under this subdivision, including, but not limited to, interstate or international telecommunications services, then the charges for nontaxable services may be subject to taxation unless the telecommunications provider can identify by reasonable and verifiable standards such portion of the charges not subject to such tax from its books and records that are kept in the regular course of business, including, but not limited to, financial statement, general ledgers, invoice and billing systems and reports, and reports for regulatory tariffs and other regulatory matters;
(c) A telecommunications provider shall notify the director of revenue of its intention to utilize the standards described in paragraph (b) of this subdivision to determine the charges that are subject to sales tax under this subdivision.
Such notification shall be in writing and shall meet standardized criteria established by the department regarding the form and format of such notice;
(d) The director of revenue may promulgate and enforce reasonable rules and regulations for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this subdivision.
Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.
This section and chapter are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2019, shall be invalid and void;
(5) A tax equivalent to four percent of the basic rate paid or charged for all sales of services for transmission of messages of telegraph companies;
(6) A tax equivalent to four percent on the amount of sales or charges for all rooms, meals and drinks furnished at any hotel, motel, tavern, inn, restaurant, eating house, drugstore, dining car, tourist cabin, tourist camp or other place in which rooms, meals or drinks are regularly served to the public.
The tax imposed under this subdivision shall not apply to any automatic mandatory gratuity for a large group imposed by a restaurant when such gratuity is reported as employee tip income and the restaurant withholds income tax under section 143.191 on such gratuity;
(7) A tax equivalent to four percent of the amount paid or charged for intrastate tickets by every person operating a railroad, sleeping car, dining car, express car, boat, airplane and such buses and trucks as are licensed by the division of motor carrier and railroad safety of the department of economic development of Missouri, engaged in the transportation of persons for hire;
(8) A tax equivalent to four percent of the amount paid or charged for rental or lease of tangible personal property, provided that if the lessor or renter of any tangible personal property had previously purchased the property under the conditions of sale at retail or leased or rented the property and the tax was paid at the time of purchase, lease or rental, the lessor, sublessor, renter or subrenter shall not apply or collect the tax on the subsequent lease, sublease, rental or subrental receipts from that property.
The purchase, rental or lease of motor vehicles, trailers, motorcycles, mopeds, motortricycles, boats, and outboard motors shall be taxed and the tax paid as provided in this section and section 144.070.
In no event shall the rental or lease of boats and outboard motors be considered a sale, charge, or fee to, for or in places of amusement, entertainment or recreation nor shall any such rental or lease be subject to any tax imposed to, for, or in such places of amusement, entertainment or recreation.
Rental and leased boats or outboard motors shall be taxed under the provisions of the sales tax laws as provided under such laws for motor vehicles and trailers.
Tangible personal property which is exempt from the sales or use tax under section 144.030 upon a sale thereof is likewise exempt from the sales or use tax upon the lease or rental thereof;
(9) A tax equivalent to four percent of the purchase price, as defined in section 144.070, of new and used motor vehicles, trailers, boats, and outboard motors purchased or acquired for use on the highways or waters of this state which are required to be registered under the laws of the state of Missouri.
This tax is imposed on the person titling such property, and shall be paid according to the procedures in section 144.070 or 144.440.
2.
All tickets sold which are sold under the provisions of this chapter which are subject to the sales tax shall have printed, stamped or otherwise endorsed thereon, the words "This ticket is subject to a sales tax.".
3.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, of the four percent rate imposed pursuant to this section, the revenue derived from a rate of two tenths of one percent shall be deposited by the state treasurer in the school district trust fund and shall be distributed as provided in section 144.701.
The remaining portion of the revenue derived from the rate imposed pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the general revenue fund.
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Action History

  1. SCS Voted Do Pass w/SCS SBs 1017 & 1239 Economic and Workforce Development Committee (4583S.04C)

  2. Hearing Conducted S Economic and Workforce Development Committee

  3. Second Read and Referred S Economic and Workforce Development Committee

  4. S First Read

  5. Prefiled

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 198 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (198)

198 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 198 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 1017 do?
SCS/SBs 1017 & 1239 - Current law taxes retail sales of food, as defined in current law, at a rate of one percent. This act provides that retail sales of food shall be exempt from state sales taxes. (Section 144.014) This provision is identical to SB 688 (2025), SB 734 (2025), and SCS/SB 161 (2023), and to a provision in SB 57 (2025) and SCS/HCS/HB 154 (2023), and is substantially similar to SB 1656 (2026), HB 2079 (2026), HB 2253 (2026), HB 2568 (2026), SB 659 (2025), HB 345 (2025), HB 432 (2025), HB 872 (2025), HB 1587 (2025), HB 1418 (2024), HB 1464 (2024), HB 2174 (2024), HB 260 (2023), HB 452 (2023), HB 591 (2023), HB 896 (2023), HCS#2/HB 1992 (2022), HB 1817 (2022), and HB 2530 (2022), and to a provision in HB 1029 (2025), HB 2815 (2024), HB 2887 (2024), HB 377 (2023), HCS/HBs 876, 771, 676 & 551 (2023), HB 1136 (2023), HB 1779 (2022), and HB 2249 (2022). The act also provides that, of the 4% state sales tax rate, the revenue derived from a rate of 0.2% shall be deposited in the School District Trust Fund. (Section 144.020) These provisions are identical to provisions in SS/SCS/SB 1534 (2026). JOSH NORBERG
Who sponsors SB 1017?
SB 1017 is sponsored by Patty Lewis.
What is the current status of SB 1017?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced December 01, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 1017?
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