The Assembly has approved Assembly Bill 242 (62-32), which would eliminate the sales tax on purchases made this summer (June-August) at bars, restaurants, movie theaters, brew pubs, amusement parks, and arcades.
According to the bill’s author, Representative Patrick Snyder (Schofield), the legislation is meant to help nearly 11,000 businesses that were especially hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proponents of the legislation believe it will help generate business to their establishments while opponents feel there are better less costly ways to encourage support for small business.
Although consumers would save money, the state would lose about $160 million, according to estimates by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, while counties would see a revenue loss of $12.6 million.
