Holiday expanded to
include school supplies
“Preparing kids for school can put financial stress on Oklahoma families,” said Barrington. “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.
“This legislation comes at a time when our nation is experiencing financial instability,” continued Barrington. “I am confident this legislation will provide relief to Oklahoma families who are trying to save money during this difficult economic time.”
Currently, clothing and shoes valued at less than $100 can be purchased free of sales tax during the first weekend in August. Barrington successfully introduced Senate Bill 861 in 2007, which passed the Legislature with bipartisan support and received the governor’s signature, after years of failed attempts by other legislators.
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.
The State Senate approved Senate Bill 718 Monday to make voting easier for military personnel who are not registered to vote and return from overseas service after the registration deadline. The House is the next stop for the measure by Sen. Don Barrington.
“Oklahoma was recently criticized by the Pew Center on the States for not providing our returning military enough time to vote. This measure will give more of our military the chance to let their voice be heard in the election process by extending the time in which they can return home and still be able to cast a provisional ballot without being registered,” said Barrington
Currently, military personnel who are not registered to vote and return home less than 25 days before an election, which is the voter registration deadline, are allowed to cast a provisional ballot. SB 718 extends the grace period for those individuals to ninety days. Therefore, any military personnel who return home within ninety days of an election will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot, without being registered to vote prior to the deadline.
“For men and women who have been deployed overseas, the last thing on their mind when they return is whether or not they’re registered to vote. It’s something that can easily slip one’s mind until right up to the election,” said Barrington. “Their main concern is spending time with family and friends, resting and getting acclimated back to life in the states. Returning home from war zones can be hard for some and we don’t want to punish any of these brave souls for accidentally forgetting to register to vote when they’ve just returned from doing such a tremendous and selfless service for their country.”
The bill would apply to any service member and their spouse who has been honorably discharged, is on official leave, or whose service or overseas employment has been terminated.
Oklahomans could help the children of military personnel killed in action further their education by donating a portion of their income tax refund to them under legislation approved Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee. Sen. Don Barrington is author of Senate Bill 721 which would give those donations to the nonprofit charitable organization, Folds of Honor Incorporated.
“This is a great program that helps ease the financial burden of families that have suffered an incredible loss and allows these children to continue to pursue their dreams of a higher education,” said Barrington, R-Lawton. “It is such a small gift to these families for the ultimate sacrifice made by their loved ones for each and every one of us as well as the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Under the bill, a check off box would be added to each state individual income and state corporate tax return form for tax year beginning after December 31, 2009 to allow citizens to donate a portion or all of their income tax refund to the Folds of Honor Scholarship Program. The program provides academic and vocational training scholarships to dependents of military servicemen and women who were either killed or wounded in action due to military service in the war in Iraq or Afghanistan.
SB 721 goes before the full Senate next for consideration.
Military personnel returning from overseas service would have an easier time voting under legislation approved unanimously Monday by the Senate Rules Committee. SB 718, authored by Sen. Don Barrington, would allow those who return up to three months before an election to still be able to vote even without being registered.
“We should do all we can to make it easier for our military men and women to be able to vote when they return home,” said Barrington, R-Lawton. “Voting is our greatest freedom; and they above all should have the right to participate in the process given it’s what many of them are fighting to give people in Iraq and other countries.”
Barrington said the legislation stemmed from a recent report by the Pew Center on the States that criticized Oklahoma for not providing enough time to vote for our military personnel serving overseas.
Barrington explained that currently, military personnel who are not registered to vote and return home after the voter registration deadline, which is 25 days before an election, are allowed to cast a provisional ballot. His bill extends the grace period for returning military personnel to ninety days. Therefore, any military personnel who return home within ninety days of an election will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot, without being registered to vote prior to the deadline.
“When our soldiers return from overseas, the last thing on their mind is registering to vote. Many of them haven’t seen their families and friends anywhere from six months to a year, and maybe more,” said Barrington. “They have so many things to get in order when they return and we don’t want to punish them because they happen to forget to register to vote in time. This will give them a little leeway, and let them still participate in one of their greatest freedoms as an American.”
The bill would apply to any service member and their spouse who has been honorably discharged, is on officially authorized leave, or whose service or overseas employment has been terminated.
SB 718 will next be heard by the full Senate.
State Senator Don Barrington, the author of Oklahoma’s back-to-school sales tax holiday, said an increase in sales tax revenues for the month of August show that the tax holiday was a huge success for the second year in a row.
Barrington, R-Lawton, praised the sales tax holiday for providing savings to Oklahoma families, and for giving a boost to Oklahoma’s economy that helped increase overall sales tax revenues.
“For the second year in a row the sales tax holiday provided significant savings to Oklahoma families, while also having a positive impact on our economy,” said Barrington.
Barrington successfully enacted the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday law in 2007 after years of failed attempts by other legislators. Oklahoma’s sales tax holiday, created by Barrington’s Senate Bill 861, allows clothing and shoes valued at less than $100 to be purchased free of sales tax during the first weekend in August.
Barrington said he wants to expand the sales tax holiday to include school supplies in 2009.
A revenue collections report released by state officials on Tuesday 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 this year.
By a vote of 32 to 14, the Senate approved a measure Wednesday to help Oklahoman families save money on school supplies. Senate Bill 1149, by State Sen. Don Barrington and Rep. Don Armes, would extend Oklahoma's Back to School sales tax holiday to include school supplies to the list of items already exempt from sales tax during the first weekend in August.
"I've had numerous parents tell me how their kids' school supply lists get longer and more expensive every year," said Barrington, R-Lawton, who was the author of last year's sales tax holiday. "The sales tax holiday last year helped save Oklahomans millions of dollars and they were able to stretch their hard earned dollars further when they did their back to school shopping. This bill would help them even more."
Barrington noted during his debate that the Tax Commission estimates that revenue impact to the state will be around $18.5 million.
Currently, clothing and footwear valued up to $100 are tax-free during the sales tax holiday. SB 1149 would expand the list of tax-free items to include school supplies such as pencils, paper, crayons, notebooks, calculators and instructional materials that cost under $100 as well.
"I think a sales tax holiday is a great incentive to get people to spend their money in Oklahoma,” said Armes, R-Faxon. “I believe it will help working families by stretching the dollars they can spend."
Under provisions of the new legislation, the new sales tax exemption would not go into effect July 1, 2009 and only if the state's growth tax revenue reached three percent during fiscal year 2010.
The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
County Commissioners may soon have the authority to declare burn bans in their counties thanks to a measure that passed the Senate Tuesday. Senate Bill 1816 is authored by Sen. Don Barrington and Rep. Don Armes.
“As a former fire fighter, I know all too well how important it is that burn bans be put in place as quickly as possible when an area is facing extremely dry conditions. People don’t always think about their actions or pay attention to the conditions, and the simple act of tossing a cigarette out the window or cooking out can lead to major devastation if the conditions are right,” said Barrington, R-Lawton. “Being able to get a burn ban in place a day, two days or a week faster than normal will make a tremendous difference in the number of fires we see across the state.”
Before declaring a burn ban, a board of county commissioners would have to have the consent of a majority of the municipal and certified rural fire department chiefs or their designees. The ban would be effective for seven days from the day of passage and further resolutions could be passed if the extreme fire danger conditions continued.
“I'm thrilled to have this bill over the first hurdle. I hope we can move it through the House quickly and find at least a little relief from the fires,” said Armes, R-Faxon. “Our volunteer firefighters are stretched to the limit right now. We have to do everything we can to help. This bill would be a great step in the right direction.”
Under provisions of the bill, violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of no more than $500, imprisonment for up to one year or both. The measure also increases the fine for anyone who sets a fire during a gubernatorially-proclaimed burn ban from $500 to $1,000.
“This measure is about saving time and money. When you’re dealing with fire or the prevention of fire, every second counts,” said Barrington. “It’s just not always feasible to have to wait on the Department of Forestry and the Governor to make a decision especially when we have fire officials in the area who are more familiar with their local conditions. This bill is simply going to speed up the whole process which in the end could help prevent future wildfires.”
If approved and signed into law, the measure would become effective immediately. The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration in committee.
Federal tax rebate won't be taxedAFX News OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - State income taxes will not have to be paid on pending federal income tax rebates, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Tax Commission said Monday.
However, Oklahomans who owe back taxes or money to the government for such things as delinquent student loans and child support payments will have their rebate checks wiped out or reduced.
Paula Ross, Tax Commission spokeswoman, said the rebates are not being considered as income at the federal level, so they also will not be taxed at the state level.
'But people who owe the state or federal government may have the rebates snagged' just as regular tax refunds are captured, she said.
The rebates are part of an economic stimulus package scheduled to be signed into law by President Bush on Wednesday.
Most single taxpayers will get $600 rebates and most married taxpayers will get $1,200, plus $300 per child. Officials hope taxpayers will spend most of their money on goods and services to spur the national economy.
Oklahoma legislators had taken steps to ensure state taxpayers would not be penalized on their state income taxes because of the rebates.
Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, R-Stillwater; Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, and House Speaker Chris Benge earlier said they supported legislation to deem the federal rebates as nontaxable on the state level.
Morgan said the idea of the stimulus package is to have taxpayers 'take that money and spend it on main streets across the country, including right here in Oklahoma.
'I am certainly in favor of ensuring Oklahomans do not have to pay state income taxes on those rebate checks. Those rebate checks are intended to pump money into our economy and not back into the state coffers.'
Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, chairman of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, said concern that the tax rebates may be taxed by the state was probably due to a situation that developed when federal taxes had to be paid on state tax rebates a few years ago.
'Generally, federal tax rebates are not taxed at the state level,' Terrill said.
Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, had prepared an amendment to ensure the federal tax money was not taxed, just in case. The amendment was planned for his bill expanding the fall sales tax holiday to include school supplies.
Holiday expanded to
