Sen. Don Humason (R-Westfield) (WNG File Photo)
WESTFIELD – Senator Donald F. Humason (R-Westfield) announced on Wednesday that the Senate had just voted to have a 2018 sales tax holiday on the weekend of August 11 and 12.
“I was pleased the Senate took action and was glad to vote yes on the sales tax holiday. When I was on the senate Retail Task Force, we routinely heard from retailers that there was value to the sales tax holiday, because it got people into their stores and gave them the chance to differentiate their knowledge and service from the less consumer-friendly experience of buying items online,” Humason said about the vote.
The 2018 sales tax holiday was added as an amendment to the economic bond bill which was still on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday. Once the Senate passes the bill, it will go to a conference committee to reconcile with the House version. The conference committee will then issue a conference report, which the House and Senate must vote to accept, before it moves to the Governor’s desk for him to sign. This process must be completed before the end of formal business for the legislative season on July 31 at midnight, according to Katherine L. Cole, Director of Communications for Senator Humason.
Starting in 2019, the sales tax holiday will become an annual event as signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker on June 28 as part of H.4640 An Act relative to minimum wage, paid family medical leave and the sales tax holiday, Cole said.
