The Louisiana House of Representatives and Senate have both approved legislation (HB 128 and SB 52) for a second amendment sales tax holiday on firearms during the first Friday through Sunday of September each year.  The Senate has also approved a sales tax holiday for Mardi Gras items (SB 128).

The Florida legislative session has ended with several sales and use tax measures failing to obtain approval. Some of the measures which failed to become law include: HB 731 (increase the state sales and use tax rate by 1%), HB 167 (sales tax holiday for Energy Star appliances), and HB 7159 (Hurricane Preparedness and Back-to-School sales tax holidays).

Hawaii passed SB 1405 on 7 May 2009 (similar to the “Amazon Law” passed by New York) which allows them to collect state sales tax from purchases made online if a company does at least $10,000 in sales and is referred by in-state affiliates.

On 4 May 2009 the Governor of Colorado signed HB 1130, which authorizes all counties in Colorado to collect, administer, and enforce its own sales tax. This bill will become effective 1 January 2010.

Hawaii Majority Democrats overrode Republican Governor Linda Lingle’s vetoes of four tax measures 8 May 2009, including raising the hotel room tax rate (SB 1111) from 7.25% to 9.25% over the next two years.  The first one percent increase will occur 1 July 2009, and the second one percent 1 July 2010.

On 5 May 2009, HB 116 narrowly failed in the AL House of Representatives for the fourth time.  John Knight, sponsor of the bill to remove sales tax from groceries, said he will not bring up the bill during the four days remaining in the session, but will try again next year.

On 4 May 2009 the Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee approved and sent it to the House for consideration the Louisiana Tax Delinquency Amnesty Act of 2009. The bill, HB 720, would authorize the Department of Revenue to choose the date for a two-month amnesty during fiscal year 2010. The amnesty would apply to all taxes administered by the DOR except motor fuel taxes.

The Washington Department of Revenue has reported that the sales and use tax rate within Wahkiakum County will increase by 0.1% effective 1 July 2009.

Governor Corzine recently signed a law requiring the Division of Taxation implement a limited Tax Amnesty Program to begin 4 May 2009 and end at midnight 15 June 2009.  During this period taxpayers can pay without penalty, late returns and back taxes including the balance due and one half of the balance of interest that remains due as of 1 May 2009.

House Bill 347 that would specifically tax sales of digital property (including books, movies, and ring tones) has been approved and signed by the Governor and will go into effect July 1, 2009.