Tennessee Bill: SB 1837

Bill Summary

TN SB 1837 exempts from Tennessee’s state sales and use tax the retail sale of food and food ingredients that are eligible to be purchased with WIC (the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children) vouchers. The exemption applies specifically to items on the WIC‑eligible list—such as defined fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy, eggs, and other core staple foods for pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children—and does not automatically extend to all groceries or ultra‑processed snack products. These items could still be subject to certain local taxes under other provisions of law, but at the state level the bill directly lowers the cost of WIC‑approved foods starting with the effective date in 2026.

Why It Matters to MAHA

The Make America Healthy Again Movement supports TN SB 1837 because it makes WIC‑approved foods—largely core, nutrient‑dense staples like produce, whole grains, milk, and eggs—more affordable for low‑income mothers and young children. By removing state sales tax specifically from WIC‑eligible items rather than junk foods, the bill effectively subsidizes real, minimally processed foods that MAHA wants families to eat more of, helping shift limited household dollars away from ultra‑processed options. Lowering the price barrier on WIC staples also supports better maternal and early‑childhood nutrition, which is central to MAHA’s goal of preventing obesity and metabolic disease from the earliest years of life.