Summary

Texas is one of the most polluted states with companies releasing thousands of pounds of Mercury each year.

HB 30 taxes the release of Mercury at $1000 per pound and dedicates that money to education.

Background

Mercury links to Autism

A recent report by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center found that the rate of special education enrollment is associated with the amount of mercury released into the air. The study found that for every 1000 pounds of mercury released , special education enrollment increased 43% and autism rates increased 61%.