BOSTON, MA (WBZ-AM) -- The Grand Bargain law signed into law by Governor Baker last week enshrines a summer sales tax holiday in Massachusetts, starting next year permanently
However, the Mass Retailers Association is pushing for the tax break this summer.
The head of the Mass Retailers' Association, John Hurst, is asking the legislature to take up a bill this month that would designate one weekend in August as sales-tax free.
House Speaker Bob DeLeo's office declined comment when asked whether the House would take up such a measure. But Hurst is very hopeful it will happen. He says giving consumers a 2-day break from the 6 and a quarter percent sales tax just makes sense.
The State House News Service reports that Starting in 2019, the Legislature will have until June 15 to pick a weekend in August to hold the sales tax holiday. If lawmakers miss that deadline, the commissioner of the Department of Revenue by July 1 must set the dates.
WBZ NewsRadio1030’s Kim Tunnicliffe reports.