Bill limiting incentives for crypto miners passes Texas Senate, moves to House

Texas lawmakers in the state’s Senate have approved a bill aimed at largely removing incentives for crypto miners operating under the seemingly friendly regulatory environment.

In a 30-1 vote on the floor of the Texas State Senate on April 12, lawmakers in the 88th legislative session passed Senate Bill 1751, legislation that would amend sections of the state’s utilities and tax code to add restrictions for crypto mining firms. The Senate session marked the first time the bill had moved forward in the state government after more than a week, when the Texas Senate Committee on Business and Commerce passed it on April 4.

The bill will next move to the Texas House of Representatives, which is scheduled to meet and discuss legislation on April 13 — though it’s unclear whether lawmakers intend to address SB 1751 at that time. If passed in the House, Texas Governor Greg Abbott — a self-described “crypto law proposal supporter” — will be able to sign the bill into law.

SB 1751 has garnered national attention from crypto advocacy groups, including the Chamber of Digital Commerce and the Satoshi Action Fund. The organizations have called on Texas residents to voice their opposition to the bill through their local representatives, but also plan to gather crypto mining supporters at a rally at the Texas State Capitol on April 25.

Under the proposed legislation, crypto mining firms participating in a program intended to compensate them for load reductions on Texas’ power grid would have their incentives capped at 10%. Certain companies operating data centers would also not receive an abatement on state taxes starting in September 2023.

“Elected officials only know how to use hammers, they don’t know how to be surgeons,” Fred Thiel, CEO of mining firm Marathon Digital Holdings, told Cointelegraph prior to the Senate vote. “They started whacking at crypto and Bitcoin mining has gotten caught up in the whacking.”

There is an anti-bitcoin mining bill up for vote by the Texas Senate tomorrow (4/12/2023)@BitcoinPierre @lee_bratcher @KristineCranley @Dennis_Porter_ have been on the frontlines lobbying against this bill.

In this , let’s dive into what this bill is and how YOU can help. pic.twitter.com/vlcosKWyMu

— Martin K. (@builtbymartink) April 11, 2023

Thiel added that should the bill pass in Texas, some mining firms including Riot Platforms which participate in the energy grid load…