Get your emergency hurricane supplies this weekend – tax free

Hurricane season is right around the corner (it officially begins June 1) and the state of Texas wants you to be prepared. The clever geniuses in the state comptroller’s office know that the best way to encourage Texans to be prepared is to give them a reason to shop, so the state is issuing a sales tax holiday this weekend on all emergency supplies. Consumers will not be charged sales tax on any items that fall within the category of emergency preparation supplies. No, that doesn’t include s’mores! But you can get batteries, portable generators, emergency ladders, hatchets, ice chests, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, flashlights and a bunch of other stuff that will see you safely through a hurricane. The sales tax holiday begins Saturday, April 27, at 12:01 a.m. and ends midnight on Monday, April 29. You’ll find more details and a list of items that qualify for the tax holiday (and those that don’t) here.