Senate gives final OK to Super Bowl, back-to-school, tax breaks

The Georgia Senate gave final approval Tuesday to a tax break on future Super Bowl tickets and back-to-school purchases this summer.

The measure now goes to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.

The bill, backed by Deal, would eliminate sales taxes on tickets to major one-time sporting events, such as the Super Bowl. Atlanta is bidding to host the big game after the new Falcons stadium opens.

Georgia lawmakers have approved sales tax breaks for back-to-school shoppers off and on for more than a decade. If signed into law, the back-to-school sales tax holiday would be July 30-31. A similar tax break for energy-efficient products would be held Sept. 30-Oct.2.

The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute said the back-to-school sales tax holiday costs the state and local government, and saves shoppers, about $70 million in taxes.

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