Josh Elliott

This year’s Connecticut Sales Tax Free Week takes place from Sunday, August 16, through Saturday, August 22 providing a chance for families to save money, whether it is taking children back-to-school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones.

Sales or purchases of certain items of clothing or footwear costing less than $300 per item are exempt from sales tax. This special exemption applies to purchases made from retailers located in Connecticut as well as from online retailers.

There are, however, certain items that are excluded from the scope of the Sales Tax Free Week exemption:

• Any special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use that is not normally worn except when used for the athletic activity or protective use for which it was designed; and
• Jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, and similar items carried on or about the human body but not worn on the body in the manner characteristic of clothing

Click here for a list of items that ARE EXEMPT from sales tax and a list of items STILL TAXABLE.

This legislative session, we passed a state budget to expand eligibility during Sales Tax Free Week, making this the first year for Sales Tax Free Week to include items, such as clothing, shoes, and backpacks, under $300 from $100 in previous years.

Click here for more information on Connecticut's Sales Tax Free Week and frequently asked questions.

Effective July 1, Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax no longer applies to eligible non-electronic school supplies, making it more affordable for families to purchase essential back-to-school items.

This change does not impact supplies purchased by or for businesses, meaning companies that purchase these items must pay in one of two ways, at the time of purchase or as part of a future tax return. 

Click here for more information about these changes.

Connecticut residents will soon have greater access to technology thanks to the launch of Laptop ConneCT. This program, in partnership with the Connecticut State Library, will put laptops and related accessories in the hands of the state residents who need them most for long-term use.

Over 100 principal public libraries have already signed up to participate in this long-term lending system.

The Laptop ConneCT program, which will distribute Dell Pro 16 computers running Windows, aims to expand digital opportunities and connect more people to education, employment, healthcare, and essential resources.

Residents are eligible to receive a laptop if they are at least 18 years old, have a valid library card with a participating library, and participate in one of the following assistance programs: 

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Medicare
• HUSKY Health (Medicaid/The Children’s Health Insurance Program)

 Questions about the program can be directed to DEEP.Broadband@ct.gov

More travelers are experiencing what makes Connecticut such a great place! Tourism growth in Connecticut more than doubled the national rate in 2025, according to the newly released Tourism and Economics Annual Report.

The state welcomed 72.2 million visitors in 2025, an increase of 3.1% from the previous year, compared with national tourism growth of 1.5%.

Report highlights:

• In 2025, Connecticut’s tourism industry generated $20.1 billion in total economic impact, a 3.4% increase from the previous year, driven by $12.3 billion in direct visitor spending
• The industry supported 125,167 jobs, approximately 5% of all jobs in the state, and generated $1.6 billion in Connecticut state and local tax revenue
• Through June 2026, statewide hotel occupancy increased 4.3%, compared to growth of only 1.3% nationally and a 0.8% decline across New England

Click here to read the full report.