By Bob Katzen

The Senate 3-34, rejected an amendment providing $210 million for a two-week sales tax holiday in 2022 allowing consumers to buy most products that cost under $2,500 during a two-week sales tax holiday without paying the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax. State law currently calls for a two-day sales tax holiday every year.

Amendment supporters say this longer tax-free holiday would boost retail sales and noted that consumers would save millions of dollars. They said this is a reasonable way to provide relief to taxpayers who suffered during the pandemic and are now dealing with inflation, the high cost of gas, groceries and so many other things.

Amendment opponents said extending the holiday is more of a feel-good policy that does little to help families. They noted the extension would actually generate little additional revenue for stores because consumers typically buy the products even without the tax-free days.