Lawmakers are expected to renew a sales tax holiday on school clothes and supplies this year, but it could be too late for some shoppers.

A bill pending in the House would set the tax break for Aug. 2 through Aug. 5 — a day after Floyd County students go back to school. Not all calendars are set for the 2007-2008 school year, but a Georgia Department of Education report shows July starting dates for 34 of the state’s 191 systems last year.

The $100 teacher gift cards Gov. Sonny Perdue is proposing to offset the expense of classroom supplies also would have to be used during the tax holiday.

“By that time, teachers have already bought what they need for their bulletin boards and displays,” said state Rep. Barbara Massey Reece, D-Menlo. “It would be much more beneficial to do it in July when people are getting things ready.”

Reece said she was unsuccessful in getting the dates changed in 2006 but will try again this year.

House Bill 128, which also sets an October tax holiday for energy efficient items, is one of more than 900 pieces of legislation filed in the House and Senate as of Friday — the 14th day of the 40-day session.

The General Assembly is in recess until Thursday, but lawmakers will spend time reviewing the bills that have been assigned to their committees and catching up with their constituents’ concerns.

For more on this report, see Sunday’s Rome News-Tribune