Austin, TX – Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa wants to remind everyone of the upcoming sales tax holiday for water efficient products intended to encourage water conservation. This Memorial Day Weekend, beginning Saturday, May 28 through midnight on Monday, May 30, Texans can purchase water conservation products and/or a WaterSense product without paying a sales tax.

In 2015, Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa authored and passed SB 1356 to add water efficient products to the already existing tax free weekend for energy efficient products to incentivize consumers statewide to make smart choices in conserving water. Water efficient products save consumers money and reduce consumption rates for our state's valuable water resources, which are even more valuable in the event of a drought.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

"Water conservation is critical to protecting our planet. Everyone needs this limited resource, and the best way to ensure there is sufficient supply is for everyone to conserve as much as they can. Texas is no stranger to droughts, which have traumatic effects on people's lives and severely impact the state and local economies.

I'm proud to have passed legislation to help our families statewide get a tax break as they do their part to conserve water and utilize water efficient products. This tax free weekend is estimated to save our hard-working Texans almost $14 million in state and local sales tax. We hope to raise public awareness about the importance of water conservation through this tax free weekend highlighting the steps that Texans can take to make smart water choices in an effort to have more water available during times of drought."

Tax free items include shower heads, a soaker or drip-irrigation hose, mulch, plants, trees, and grasses, rain barrels, a moisture control for a sprinkler or irrigation system, and others. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase. The following link to the Texas Comptroller's webpage will provide more information:

https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-1018.php

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