Tennessee 2025 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HB0021 Draft / Bill

Filed 12/05/2024

                     
<BillNo> <Sponsor> 
 
HOUSE BILL 21 
By Davis 
 
 
HB0021 
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AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, 
Chapter 3 and Title 67, relative to taxation. 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: 
 SECTION 1.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-6-228(a), is amended by deleting 
the subsection and substituting instead the following: 
 (a)  Notwithstanding this chapter to the contrary, except as otherwise provided in 
subsections (b) and (c), the retail sale of food and food ingredients shall not be taxed. 
 SECTION 2.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-6-228, is amended by adding the 
following language as a new subsection (c): 
 Notwithstanding § 67-6-702(a) to the contrary, food and food ingredients are 
taxable under part 7 of this chapter. 
 SECTION 3.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-6-103(c)(2), is amended by 
deleting the following language: 
Revenue generated from one-half percent (0.5%) of the tax rate provided in § 67-6-228 
shall continue to be deposited in the state general fund and earmarked for education 
purposes in kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) regardless of whether the tax rate 
provided in § 67-6-228 is reduced below six percent (6%). 
 SECTION 4.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-6-103(u), is amended by deleting 
the subsection and substituting instead the following: 
 (u)  Notwithstanding the allocations provided for in subsection (a), there must be 
allocated and distributed to the counties and municipalities an amount substantially 
equal to the amount that would have been allocated to the counties and municipalities 
under subdivision (a)(3) but for the exemption from sales tax applicable to the retail sale   
 
 
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of food and food ingredients.  The allocation provided in this subsection (u) must be 
based on the reporting of exempt sales of food and food ingredients and any other data 
or information the commissioner deems relevant. 
 SECTION 5.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-6-329(a), is amended by adding 
the following as a new, appropriately designated subdivision: 
 ( )  Food and food ingredients; 
 SECTION 6.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-6-329(a)(18), is amended by 
deleting the language "or food and food ingredients". 
 SECTION 7.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-6-229, is amended by deleting the 
language "food and food ingredients or". 
 SECTION 8.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-3-802(1), is amended by deleting 
the language "that derives at least twenty percent (20%) of its sales taxable sales from the retail 
sale of food and food ingredients for human consumption taxed at the rate provided in § 67-6-
228(a)" and substituting instead the language "that derives at least twenty percent (20%) of its 
sales from the retail sale of food and food ingredients for human consumption". 
 SECTION 9.  Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-3-806(d)(1), is amended by 
deleting the language "must maintain a minimum of twenty percent (20%) of the licensee's sales 
taxable sales from the retail sale of food and food ingredients for human consumption taxed at 
the rate provided in § 67-6-228(a)" and substituting instead the language "must maintain a 
minimum of twenty percent (20%) of the licensee's sales from the retail sale of food and food 
ingredients for human consumption". 
 SECTION 10.  This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.