TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is moving to phase out the nation’s second-highest state sales tax on groceries, but Republican lawmakers wouldn't have the state lower consumers’ bills until after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly faces reelection in November.

The House voted 114-3 on Thursday to approve the GOP's tax-cut proposal after the Senate voted 39-0 Wednesday to pass it.

Eliminating the 6.5% tax is Kelly’s most visible legislative initiative this year. She and fellow Democrats have been waging a public campaign for weeks to get the GOP-controlled Legislature to eliminate the whole tax on July 1.

The Republican plan would phase out the tax over three years, dropping it to 4% in January, 2023. In January 2024, the rate will reduce to 2 percent and be completely eliminated beginning in January 2025.

Kelly said she will sign the bill.