Oklahoma senators passed the sales tax holiday bill by a 42-3 vote March 9. 

Authored by Sen. Don Barrington, Senate Bill 723 expands the existing sales tax holiday to include school supplies and reference materials.

“Preparing kids for school can put financial stress on Oklahoma families,” Barrington said in a statement. “Oklahoma’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday has proven to be very beneficial to families statewide, while also having a positive impact on our economy.  Businesses see increased traffic and our economy sees a boost since shoppers no longer need to cross state lines to take advantage of the Texas sales tax holiday."

Currently, clothing and shoes valued at less than $100 can be purchased free of sales tax during the first weekend in August.  Barrington introduced Senate Bill 861 in 2007, which passed the Legislature.

A revenue collections report released by state officials last August showed that the state’s general revenue fund received $152.9 million from sales taxes in August, which is up $22.3 million (17 percent) from the same month last year and up $15 million (10.9 percent) above the estimate for 2008.