BOSTON — Massachusetts shoppers are one step closer to another summer tax-free weekend.

House and Senate lawmakers agreed to the bill during an informal session Wednesday.

Under the legislation, the sales tax holiday would be scheduled for Aug. 10 and 11 and will apply to retail sales excluding any single item priced higher than $2,500. It also excludes vehicles, motor boats, tobacco, meals and utilities.

Gov. Deval Patrick has said he expects to sign the bill, although he said the state will have to come up with a way to offset the lost revenue, which has averaged about $20 million in past years.

Sales-tax holiday weekends have become something of a tradition in Massachusetts during the dog days of summers as lawmakers hope to give store owners and consumers a boost during a typically sluggish shopping season.