Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
(405) 521-5698
For Immediate Release:
March 6, 2008
Sen. Don Barrington
Senate Approves Barrington's Bill Adding
School Supplies to Sales Tax Holiday
By a vote of 32 to 14, the Senate approved a measure Wednesday
to help Oklahoman families save money on school supplies. Senate
Bill 1149, by State Sen. Don
Barrington and Rep. Don Armes, would extend Oklahoma's Back
to School sales tax holiday to include school supplies to the list
of items already exempt from sales tax during the first weekend
in August.
"I've had numerous parents tell me how their kids' school supply
lists get longer and more expensive every year," said Barrington,
R-Lawton, who was the author of last year's sales tax holiday. "The
sales tax holiday last year helped save Oklahomans millions of dollars
and they were able to stretch their hard earned dollars further
when they did their back to school shopping. This bill would help
them even more."
Barrington noted during his debate that the Tax Commission estimates
that revenue impact to the state will be around $18.5 million.
Currently, clothing and footwear valued up to $100 are tax-free
during the sales tax holiday. SB 1149 would expand the list of tax-free
items to include school supplies such as pencils, paper, crayons,
notebooks, calculators and instructional materials that cost under
$100 as well.
"I think a sales tax holiday is a great incentive to get people
to spend their money in Oklahoma,” said Armes, R-Faxon. “I
believe it will help working families by stretching the dollars
they can spend."
Under provisions of the new legislation, the new sales tax exemption
would not go into effect July 1, 2009 and only if the state's growth
tax revenue reached three percent during fiscal year 2010.
The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for further
consideration.
For more information contact:
Senator Barrington's Office: (405) 521-5563
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