85R694 CJC-D     By: Fallon H.B. No. 485       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to an exemption from the sales tax for firearms and hunting   supplies for a limited period.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 151, Tax Code, is amended   by adding Section 151.358 to read as follows:          Sec. 151.358.  FIREARMS AND HUNTING SUPPLIES FOR LIMITED   PERIOD. (a)  In this section, "hunting supplies" means ammunition,   archery equipment, hunting blinds and stands, hunting decoys,   firearm cleaning supplies, gun cases and gun safes, hunting optics,   and hunting safety equipment.          (b)  The sale of a firearm or hunting supplies is exempted   from the taxes imposed by this chapter if the sale takes place   during a period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the Saturday of the last   full weekend in August and ending at 12 midnight on the following   Sunday.          SECTION 2.  (a)  Notwithstanding Section 151.358, Tax Code,   as added by this Act, if this Act takes effect September 1, 2017,   the exemption provided by that section from the taxes imposed by   Chapter 151, Tax Code, applies to a sale that takes place during a   period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the Saturday of the first full   weekend in September 2017 and ending at 12 midnight on the following   Sunday if the sale otherwise meets the requirements of that   section.          (b)  If this Act receives the vote necessary for immediate   effect as provided by Section 4 of this Act, this section has no   effect.          (c)  If this section takes effect, this section expires   October 1, 2017.          SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act does not   affect tax liability accruing before the effective date of this   Act. That liability continues in effect as if this Act had not been   enacted, and the former law is continued in effect for the   collection of taxes due and for civil and criminal enforcement of   the liability for those taxes.          SECTION 4.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this   Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of   all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39,   Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the   vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect   September 1, 2017.