The Texas State Senate has passed a bill that would establish a sales tax holiday for firearms and ammunition. Senate Bill 228, authored by Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), would create the sales tax holiday on the last weekend in August before hunting season, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on that Friday, and lasting until midnight on the following Sunday.
The proposed legislation has been referred to as the “Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday” bill.
Sales tax holidays are typically held for school supplies, clothing, appliances, and other goods on an August weekend before the school session begins.
Senate bill 228 would amend the Texas Tax Code, providing a sales tax exemption for “hunting supplies.” Hunting supplies is broadly defined in the bill to encompass ammunition, archery equipment, hunting blinds and stands, hunting decoys, firearm cleaning supplies, gun cases and gun safes, and hunting optics.
Sen. Creighton told Breitbart Texas, “Since 2009, retailers in east and southeast Texas have been at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to their Louisiana counterparts. Louisiana, among other states, adopted a sales tax holiday similar to the one we’ve passed today in the Senate.”
The Senator continued, “Providing this sales tax break prior to the start of hunting season will be an economic driver for small businesses, and will provide our hunters much deserved savings. I am pleased to encourage and promote gunmanship and to improve opportunities for all Texans to enjoy their Second Amendment rights.”
Co-authors of the bill are Sen. Donna Campbell (R- New Braunfels) and Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville).
The bill passed the Senate, and is now in the House Ways and Means Committee.
The Senate Finance Committee voted 12 to 1 for the bill to proceed to the Senate floor. The sole nay vote was Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin).
Lana Shadwick is a contributing writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. Follow her on Twitter @LanaShadwick2
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