The Michigan Legislature approved a bill that preemptively bans local excise taxes on food and sugary drinks.
Michigan legislators voted early this month to preemptively restrict city or municipal governments from passing any laws that would tax food, drinks and gum, according to CBS Detroit. While there is currently no bill being considered that would tax soda or other sugary items in the state, Michigan’s pre-emptive move is likely to stop similar taxes to those popping up in Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.
The ban on local excise taxes on food and drinks passed through the Senate and the House. Sen. Peter MacGregor is championing the bill in an attempt to ensure that no such tax hurts local economies or communities.
Once the bill is finalized, Gov. Rick Snyder will have the final say in whether or not Michigan becomes to first state to ban local excise taxes on all food.