(Austin, Texas - Thursday, July 18, 2019) - We are pleased to report that significant legislation beneficial to the Texas horse industry was passed in the recently concluded legislative session. The most promising is HB 2463, which will eventually put $25 million annually into an escrow account from a portion of the taxes collected on the sale, storage, and use of horse feed, horse supplements, horse tack, bedding and grooming supplies, and any other taxable expenditure directly related to owning, riding, or boarding horses. Of the $25 million, up to 70% ($17.5 million) will be available to racetrack operators for purses, and 30% ($7.5 million) will be available to the recognized breed registries to enhance incentive programs or for "any event that furthers the horse industry." It is now extremely important to thank and support our Senators and Representatives who voted for this beneficial legislation.

We would like for each legislator who voted in favor of this bill to receive individual letters of thanks from as many horsemen and horsewomen as possible.

The list of those Representatives along with their mailing addresses can be found here and the list of those Senators can be found here. To find your legislator, enter your address at https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home. Of course you may write a thank-you note and/or contribute to anyone on the list.

Please do so today!