Rep. Phil King (Weatherford), chair of the Regulated Industries Committee, has filed HB 1635. This bill eliminates the provisions in TIF's enabling legislation related to libraries and healthcare. Essentially, it makes public libraries ineligible for TIF funds. While theoretically, school libraries and academic libraries could be funded through K-12 and higher education grants, libraries (of all types) have received the vast majority of TIF funding through the library allotment. The bill would completely eliminate any mechanism for public library funding.

All library supporters are urged to speak on the important role of libraries in the state's educational infrastructure. If your representative serves on the House Regulated Industries, please write your legislator immediately about the importance of TIF funding for your library and how the library affects student education and lifelong learning. Again, if your representative is a member on the Regulated Industries Committee, please send a copy of your letter to the Committee Chairman, Rep. King, and the TLA office.

If your representative does not serve on the Regulated Industries Committee, please contact your legislator and tell him/her that libraries are a part of the state's educational infrastructure and need continued TIF support. Ask your representative to speak with his/her colleagues who serve on the Regulated Industries Committee about the need to include libraries in TIF funding.

1. Any legislative measure to make libraries ineligible for TIF funding would mean that libraries would be less able to meet the needs of their communities, including students (many of whom rely on public libraries when school libraries are closed). Describe the kinds of services that TIF has allowed you to offer).
2. Libraries play a vital role in both formal education and lifelong learning. Discuss the use of your library's resources by students, homeschoolers, college students, and job seekers, as well as partnerships your library has with educational groups.
3. In large urban school systems and in many rural areas, where our students don't have the privilege of computers at home, the public library system is the main source for access to educational materials.
4. Describe what lack of TIF funding will mean for your community and students.

Members of the House Regulated Industries Committee

• Phil King, Chair
• Bob Hunter, Vice-Chair
• Sylvester Turner, CBO
• Todd Baxter
• Joe Crabb
• Ryan Guillen
• Steven Wolens

To write to State Representatives:

Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910