HB 5 is a costly giveaway to polluting corporations. The Texas Senate should ditch this bill.  

The Texas Senate could soon consider HB 5, a revival of a corporate tax break program that put taxpayers on the hook for an estimated $31 billion once the program’s previous version expired last year.  

Even worse, HB 5’s revival of this program excludes renewable energy projects – like wind and solar – to the benefit of polluting industries.  

Contact your rep and ask they don't sign on as a co-sponsor of the bill and vote “NO” if it comes to the Senate floor.  

If it does come to the Senate floor, HB 5 needs these amendments:

- Allow wind and solar energy projects to participate.

- Require applicants for tax limitations to demonstrate that the benefits of subsidized projects are sufficient to offset both lost tax revenue and social and environmental costs resulting from a project.

- Require operators to pay penalties for environmental noncompliance at sources containing a project supported by a tax limitation agreement.

- Require robust public participation, including a public meeting with the applicant and the school board and a comment period before a decision is made.

But still, vote NO. This bill is bad for the environment and bad for Texans already struggling to pay property taxes.