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Committee backs 'Beers for Steers' tax credit to keep spent grain local
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Summary
HB 3336 would create an 8¢/pound state tax credit (capped at $30,000 per producer) for breweries and distillers that donate spent grain to farmers/ranchers within 100 miles for animal feed or compost. Supporters argued it strengthens rural economies and reduces waste; the bill was reported favorably to the full Senate.
The Committee on State Affairs considered House Bill 3336, called 'Beers for Steers,' a proposal to provide a state excise‑tax credit for breweries and distillers that donate spent grain to agricultural operations for livestock feed or compost.
Sponsor testimony described spent grain as a high‑protein, nutrient‑rich byproduct that is widely used as a low‑cost feed source. The bill would grant an 8‑cent per‑pound tax credit for donated grain up to $30,000 per producer per year and would require the donated grain to be used within 100 miles of the brewery or distillery.
Adrienne Hodges, owner of Boulder Public Brewing in Temple, testified the credit would sustain existing donation practices and help rural ranchers facing rising feed costs. Hodges said most Texas craft brewers already donate spent grain and cited state craft‑beer statistics used in testimony (e.g., roughly 445 craft breweries). The committee reported the bill favorably to the full Senate with a recorded vote.
