Committee approves sales tax holiday bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Legislation that would give back-to-school shoppers a break from sales taxes was approved by the House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Wednesday. <br><br>The measure by Rep. Bill

Wednesday, February 13th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Legislation that would give back-to-school shoppers a break from sales taxes was approved by the House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Wednesday.

The measure by Rep. Bill Nations, D-Norman, closely tracks a similar program in Texas that provides a three-day sales tax holiday during the first weekend of August.

Nations' measure would permit Oklahoma shoppers to purchase clothing and footwear free of sales tax as long as the price of each article is less than $100.

It also exempts local sales taxes and requires the state to reimburse revenues that are lost by cities and towns.

At least three other bills that would create sales tax holiday programs are pending in the 2002 Legislature, including one that would extend the holiday to an entire week.

Similar programs were proposed in the 2000 and 2001 legislatures but failed to win final passage. Legislative leaders have expressed concern about the loss of about $6 million in sales tax revenue.

Nation's measure, House Bill 2748, was sent to the full House for action.