HARRIS COUNTY — Long before online shopping carts, same-day delivery and children requesting school supplies by text message, Rodney Ellis had a practical idea: give Texas families a break when back-to-school bills begin piling up.

On Tuesday, August 4, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis stood alongside educators and members of the Texas House of Representatives to mark the approaching start of the 2026 Texas back-to-school sales tax holiday.

State Representatives Dr. Alma A. Allen of House District 131, Lauren Ashley Simmons of House District 146 and Ron Reynolds of House District 27 joined Ellis at his Precinct One office in Houston. Surrounded by “Tax Relief for Working Families” signage, the leaders highlighted how the annual sales tax holiday helps parents stretch household budgets while preparing children for another academic year.

 

The gathering came ahead of the tax-free period, which runs from Friday, August 7, through midnight Sunday, August 9. During the three-day holiday, shoppers may purchase most qualifying clothing, footwear, school supplies and student backpacks priced below $100 without paying state or local sales tax.

Depending on the local tax rate, families can save approximately $8 for every $100 spent on qualifying merchandise. That might not buy a new laptop, but it can cover notebooks, pencils, folders or perhaps one more pair of school pants—which, as parents know, children have a mysterious ability to outgrow almost overnight.

The press conference also celebrated Ellis’ historic connection to the program.

While serving in the Texas Senate, Ellis proposed the sales tax holiday during the 1999 legislative session. His original proposal called for a weeklong exemption on items costing less than $200. The final legislation established a three-day holiday covering eligible clothing and footwear priced below $100.

Texas lawmakers later expanded the program. Student backpacks became eligible in 2007, followed by qualifying school supplies in 2009. The result is a public policy that has grown alongside generations of Texas students and remains one of the state’s most recognizable forms of direct consumer tax relief.

More than 25 years after its creation, the holiday remains especially important for working families confronting higher expenses for groceries, housing, utilities, transportation and other necessities. Back-to-school season may be filled with excitement, but the price of preparing multiple children can quickly turn enthusiasm into arithmetic.

The tax holiday does not eliminate that financial burden, but it gives families an opportunity to keep more of their money while supporting retailers and neighborhood businesses.

Qualifying purchases may be made in stores or through online, telephone, mail and custom orders, provided the sale occurs during the official holiday period. Each eligible item must be priced below $100; the exemption is determined item by item rather than by the shopper’s total bill.

 

 

However, not every back-to-school purchase qualifies. Jewelry, handbags, luggage, wallets and many specialized athletic items remain taxable. Families should review the Texas Comptroller’s eligibility guidelines, prepare shopping lists and compare prices before joining the weekend rush.

Tuesday’s gathering demonstrated what lasting legislation can look like. A policy born in the Texas Legislature in 1999 continues delivering measurable benefits at cash registers across the state in 2026.

For Ellis, Allen, Simmons, Reynolds and the educators standing with them, the message was rooted in both history and household reality: helping students succeed also means supporting the families responsible for getting them ready.

One backpack, one pair of shoes and one tax-free receipt at a time, a Houston-born idea continues to make the beginning of the school year a little more affordable.

More information on Harris County Precinct 1, go to: https://www.hcp1.net/CommissionerEllis