Proposition 316
Limit Local Tax Rate on Groceries to 2% of Base Price and Require Voter Approval to Increase Tax Rate Measure
On the ballot
Arizona · November 2026 general election · Legislative referral · Election day November 3, 2026
Topics: Taxes and revenue
In plain language
Proposition 316 would bar a city, town, or other local tax jurisdiction from imposing or raising a sales tax on groceries above 2% of the base price without voter approval. A jurisdiction already taxing groceries at 2% or below could not raise that rate above 2% even with a vote. A jurisdiction that taxed groceries above 2% as of January 1, 2025 would have its rate frozen at that level, unable to raise it further. The Legislature referred the measure as House Concurrent Resolution 2021 in 2025; state figures show 70 of Arizona's 91 incorporated cities and towns taxed groceries for home consumption in 2024, though Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa do not.
Fiscal impact
A fiscal note on the measure estimates that municipal sales-tax revenue statewide would fall by about $227 million if voters approve the cap and it takes effect in fiscal year 2028, as reported by the Tucson Sentinel.
Summarized from the official fiscal analysis listed in the sources below. Figures are the state's, not this site's.
What supporters and opponents say
These are summaries of arguments made by the named organizations, drawn from the sources listed below. They are their claims, not this site's, and this site takes no position on the measure.
What supporters say
- State Rep. Leo Biasiucci (R) said he personally does not believe essential foods like eggs, milk, and meat should be taxed, calling them things every family needs to survive.
What opponents say
- Mayors of Arizona municipalities that tax groceries have said the resulting revenue loss would hit their communities hard; officials in the small town of Taylor note that food-tax revenue makes up more than 30 percent of its budget.
Official ballot language
The certified ballot text is not yet available for this measure. Once the state certifies it, the verbatim wording will appear here.
Sources
Everything on this page traces to these sources. Follow them to read the original documents.
- Arizona Legislature — 2026 Ballot Measure Analyses (Prop. 316, HCR2021)
- Ballotpedia — Arizona Proposition 316, Limit Local Tax Rate on Groceries to 2% of Base Price and Require Voter Approval to Increase Tax Rate Measure (2026)
- Ballotpedia News — Arizona 2026 ballot measure would require voter approval to raise local grocery sales taxes, cap them at 2%
Last updated . How this page is sourced and corrected is described in the correction policy.