A number of cities across the country have adopted some form of soda tax over the past few years, but no such surcharges have been imposed at the state level since 1992. Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia & West Virginia all have soda taxes, while they are preempted by Arizona, California and Michigan. But the dearth of new soda taxes is not for the lack of trying. Massachusetts is next up to bat on the issue as the Joint Committee on Revenue will take public testimony next Tuesday on two bills that would do precisely that. Senate 1709 and House 2529 both would impose a surcharge on sugary dinks sold in the Commonwealth with different formulas proposed in each. S.1709, filed by Senator Jason Lewis, exempts beverages with less than 5 grams of sugar, while taxing those with between 5 and 20 grams at 1 cent per ounce and those over 20 grams at 2 cents per ounce. HB 2529, filed by representative Kay Khan, exempts beverages with less than 7.5 grams, and applies 1 cent per ounce tax on those with between 7.5 and 30 grams of sugar and 2 cents per ounce for those with more than 30 grams. While both bills are essentially refiles from last session, the sponsors have removed more controversial language affecting marketing, children’s meals and labeling in the hope of the proposals being more favorably perceived. The hearing is in Room B2 at 1 PM.