Food policy ballot measures

Voters have decided on food policy ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, this includes measures regarding food standards, regulations, labeling, and distribution. The topic is grouped within the environment and energy policy area.

This page provides information on:

• Related ballot measures
• Upcoming ballot measures
• Comprehensive list of ballot measures by year and state

Topic information

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Budget and tax policy

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Education policy

Higher education Higher education funding Higher education governance Public K–12 education Public education funding Public education governance Public school teachers and staff Religion in public schools School class size policy Early childhood education School choice policy

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Environment and energy policy

Energy policy Carbon emissions regulations Energy conservation and efficiency Energy market regulations Energy transmission projects Fossil fuel energy Hydroelectric energy Nuclear energy Solar and wind energy Hunting and fishing Fisheries and fishing regulations Game and fish commissions Hunting regulations Right to hunt and fish Natural disaster policy Earthquake infrastructure Flood infrastructure and management Storm infrastructure Wildfire management Agriculture policy Animal treatment laws Food policy Forestry and timber Mineral resources Parks, land, and natural area conservation Pollution, waste, and recycling policy

Governance policy

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Housing policy Homestead tax exemptions Housing assistance programs Housing development funding Rent control and regulations Transportation policy Airport infrastructure Highways and bridges Non-motorized transportation Ports and harbors Public transportation Railways Toll roads Transportation taxes and fees Vehicle and driver regulations Water infrastructure Drinking water systems Sewage and stormwater Water irrigation policy Water storage Eminent domain policy Land use and development policy Public land policy Telecommunications infrastructure Utility policy

Labor, healthcare, and public assistance policy

Labor union policy Collective bargaining Labor disputes and strikes Labor union deductions Right-to-work laws Healthcare policy Complementary and alternative healthcare Healthcare facility funding Healthcare governance Private health insurance Public health insurance Vaccinations and disease policy Work regulations Child labor regulations Gender-based labor regulations Minimum wage laws Paid sick leave laws Workers' compensation laws Working hours regulations Public assistance programs Public employee retirement funds Public works labor and contracting

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Abortion policy Affirmative action American Indian issues Assisted death policy Athletics and sports English language policy Family-related policy Firearms policy Gambling policy Immigration policy LGBTQ issues Race and ethnicity issues Religion-related policy Sex and gender issues Sexual content regulations Sunday regulations

Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2026 ballot measures and 2027 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to this topic that are certified or potential for this year and future elections:

2026

1. Idaho Exempt Food From Sales and Use Taxes Initiative (2026) - Potential

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

Years

States

2026

1. Idaho Exempt Food From Sales and Use Taxes Initiative (2026) - Potential

2025

1. Colorado Proposition LL, Allow State to Retain Revenue from Proposition FF for Healthy School Meals for All Program Measure (2025)
2. Colorado Proposition MM, Reduce State Income Tax Deductions and Allocate Revenue to School Meals and SNAP Measure (2025)

2024

1. South Dakota Initiated Measure 28, Prohibit Food and Grocery Taxes Initiative (2024)

2021

1. Maine Question 3, Right to Produce, Harvest, and Consume Food Amendment (2021)

2014

1. Colorado Mandatory Labeling of GMOs Initiative, Proposition 105 (2014)
2. Oregon Measure 92, Mandatory Labeling of GMOs Initiative (2014)

2013

1. Washington Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Measure, Initiative 522 (2013)

2012

1. California Proposition 37, Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Initiative (2012)

2004

1. South Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Tax Exemption on Food Measure (2004)

2002

1. Arkansas Taxes on Food and Medicine, Proposed Amendment 3 (2002)
2. Oregon Measure 27, Labeling of Genetically-Engineered Foods Initiative (2002)

1994

1. Arkansas Soft Drink Tax, Proposed Referred Act 1 (1994)
2. Ohio Prohibit Taxes on Soft Drinks Initiative (1994)

1992

1. California Proposition 163, Prohibit Sales Tax on Food Initiative (1992)

1990

1. Utah Initiative A, Prohibit Sales Tax on Food Initiative (1990)

1986

1. Montana Milk Price Decontrol, I-104 (1986)

1984

1. Montana Abolish State Board of Milk Control, I-96 (1984)

1982

1. Maine Question 2, Wholesale and Retail Milk Price Control Repeal Initiative (1982)

1980

1. Utah Initiative A, Exempt Food from Sales Tax Measure (1980)

1978

1. South Dakota Initiated Measure 2, Repeal Dairy Marketing Act Measure (1978)

1977

1. Washington Initiative 345, Food Products Sales Tax Exemption Measure (1977)

1976

1. Colorado Amendment No. 7, Food Exempt from State Sales Tax Initiative (1976)
2. Missouri Amendment 2, Food and Drug Exemption from Sales Tax Initiative (1976)

1974

1. Arizona Proposition 300, Prohibition of Food Tax Amendment (1974)

1968

1. Georgia Amendment 18, Regulation of Milk Product Marketing Measure (1968)

1962

1. Washington Referendum 32, Milk Marketing Regulation Measure (1962)

1954

1. North Dakota Food Sales Tax Exemption, Initiative 1 (1954)
2. Oregon Measure 8, Repeal of Milk Regulation Law Initiative (1954)

1952

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 332-333, Creation of Milk Control Administrator Initiative (1952)
2. Washington Initiative 180, Yellow Oleomargarine Legalization Measure (1952)

1950

1. Michigan Proposal No. 4, Sale of Yellow Oleomargarine Referendum (1950)

1949

1. Ohio Manufacture and Sale of Colored Oleomargarine Initiative (1949)

1942

1. Michigan Proposal No. 3, Milk Marketing Board Referendum (1942)

1940

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 316-317, Repeal of Milk Control Law Initiative (1940)

1936

1. California Proposition 18, Oleomargarine Tax Referendum (1936)
2. Michigan Proposal No. 3, Exempting Certain Food Products from Taxation Initiative (1936)
3. Ohio Prohibit Taxes on Food Initiative (1936)

1933

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 316-317, Oleomargarine Tax Referendum (July 1933)

1932

1. Colorado Measure 2, Oleomargarine Tax Referendum (1932)
2. Michigan Proposal No. 8, Regulations on Oleomargarine Referendum (1932)
3. Oklahoma State Question 164, Oleomargarine Regulation Referendum (1932)
4. Oregon Measure Nos. 306-307, Oleomargarine Tax Referendum (1932)
5. South Dakota Referred Law 2, Butter Substitute Tax Referendum (1932)

1926

1. California Proposition 3, Oleomargarine Regulations Referendum (1926)

1925

1. Maine Question 2, Grades of Milk Referendum (December 1925)

1924

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 306-307, Oleomargarine and Condensed Milk Legality Referendum (1924)
2. Washington Referendum 16, Requirements for Butter Substitutes Measure (1924)

1920

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 304-305, Oleomargarine Regulation Referendum (1920)

1916

1. Nebraska Amendment 2, Food, Drug, Dairy, and Oil Commissioner Initiative (1916)

1906

1. Minnesota Amendment 3, Right to Sell One's Produce without License Amendment (1906)

1888

1. Minnesota Monopolization of Food Product Market, Amendment 1 (1888)

Arizona

1. Arizona Proposition 300, Prohibition of Food Tax Amendment (1974)

Arkansas

1. Arkansas Soft Drink Tax, Proposed Referred Act 1 (1994)
2. Arkansas Taxes on Food and Medicine, Proposed Amendment 3 (2002)

California

1. California Proposition 163, Prohibit Sales Tax on Food Initiative (1992)
2. California Proposition 18, Oleomargarine Tax Referendum (1936)
3. California Proposition 3, Oleomargarine Regulations Referendum (1926)
4. California Proposition 37, Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Initiative (2012)

Colorado

1. Colorado Amendment No. 7, Food Exempt from State Sales Tax Initiative (1976)
2. Colorado Mandatory Labeling of GMOs Initiative, Proposition 105 (2014)
3. Colorado Measure 2, Oleomargarine Tax Referendum (1932)
4. Colorado Proposition LL, Allow State to Retain Revenue from Proposition FF for Healthy School Meals for All Program Measure (2025)
5. Colorado Proposition MM, Reduce State Income Tax Deductions and Allocate Revenue to School Meals and SNAP Measure (2025)

Georgia

1. Georgia Amendment 18, Regulation of Milk Product Marketing Measure (1968)

Idaho

1. Idaho Exempt Food From Sales and Use Taxes Initiative (2026) - Potential

Maine

1. Maine Question 2, Grades of Milk Referendum (December 1925)
2. Maine Question 2, Wholesale and Retail Milk Price Control Repeal Initiative (1982)
3. Maine Question 3, Right to Produce, Harvest, and Consume Food Amendment (2021)

Michigan

1. Michigan Proposal No. 3, Exempting Certain Food Products from Taxation Initiative (1936)
2. Michigan Proposal No. 3, Milk Marketing Board Referendum (1942)
3. Michigan Proposal No. 4, Sale of Yellow Oleomargarine Referendum (1950)
4. Michigan Proposal No. 8, Regulations on Oleomargarine Referendum (1932)

Minnesota

1. Minnesota Amendment 3, Right to Sell One's Produce without License Amendment (1906)
2. Minnesota Monopolization of Food Product Market, Amendment 1 (1888)

Missouri

1. Missouri Amendment 2, Food and Drug Exemption from Sales Tax Initiative (1976)

Montana

1. Montana Abolish State Board of Milk Control, I-96 (1984)
2. Montana Milk Price Decontrol, I-104 (1986)

Nebraska

1. Nebraska Amendment 2, Food, Drug, Dairy, and Oil Commissioner Initiative (1916)

North Dakota

1. North Dakota Food Sales Tax Exemption, Initiative 1 (1954)

Ohio

1. Ohio Manufacture and Sale of Colored Oleomargarine Initiative (1949)
2. Ohio Prohibit Taxes on Food Initiative (1936)
3. Ohio Prohibit Taxes on Soft Drinks Initiative (1994)

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma State Question 164, Oleomargarine Regulation Referendum (1932)

Oregon

1. Oregon Measure 27, Labeling of Genetically-Engineered Foods Initiative (2002)
2. Oregon Measure 8, Repeal of Milk Regulation Law Initiative (1954)
3. Oregon Measure 92, Mandatory Labeling of GMOs Initiative (2014)
4. Oregon Measure Nos. 304-305, Oleomargarine Regulation Referendum (1920)
5. Oregon Measure Nos. 306-307, Oleomargarine Tax Referendum (1932)
6. Oregon Measure Nos. 306-307, Oleomargarine and Condensed Milk Legality Referendum (1924)
7. Oregon Measure Nos. 316-317, Oleomargarine Tax Referendum (July 1933)
8. Oregon Measure Nos. 316-317, Repeal of Milk Control Law Initiative (1940)
9. Oregon Measure Nos. 332-333, Creation of Milk Control Administrator Initiative (1952)

South Dakota

1. South Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Tax Exemption on Food Measure (2004)
2. South Dakota Initiated Measure 2, Repeal Dairy Marketing Act Measure (1978)
3. South Dakota Initiated Measure 28, Prohibit Food and Grocery Taxes Initiative (2024)
4. South Dakota Referred Law 2, Butter Substitute Tax Referendum (1932)

Utah

1. Utah Initiative A, Exempt Food from Sales Tax Measure (1980)
2. Utah Initiative A, Prohibit Sales Tax on Food Initiative (1990)

Washington

1. Washington Initiative 180, Yellow Oleomargarine Legalization Measure (1952)
2. Washington Initiative 345, Food Products Sales Tax Exemption Measure (1977)
3. Washington Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Measure, Initiative 522 (2013)
4. Washington Referendum 16, Requirements for Butter Substitutes Measure (1924)
5. Washington Referendum 32, Milk Marketing Regulation Measure (1962)

See also

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