There are two bills in the Texas House right now that would make a real difference for small farmers and homesteaders. What are they?

1.  Eggs (view our fact sheet: HB 2945)

HB 2945 would allow small farmers to sell ungraded eggs to local sourcing restaurants, mom & pop grocers, and other small retailers.  This increase consumer access to affordable locally raised eggs, while providing important economic opportunities for small farmers!

2.  Home Food Security (view our fact sheet: HB 92)

HB 92 would protect people’s right to raise food for themselves by stopping  cities and homeowners’ associations from banning people from having backyard gardens, poultry, or rabbits.

Both these bills have been approved by the House Agriculture Committee, but they both face opposition from powerful industry groups and could die without ever getting a vote by the full House.

What can you do about it?  TAKE ACTION!

Call your Texas Representative and ask them to co-author both bills and help move them forward.

Sample script: “My name is ___ and I live in ____. I am calling to ask my Representative to support small farmers by co-authoring HB 2945 to allow small farmers to sell ungraded eggs to restaurants and retailers. I am also asking that they co-author HB 92, to protect people’s right to raise food for themselves. [Add a sentence or two about why these bills matter to you or your community]. Thank you.”

 Find Your Representative

BONUS ACTION:

Look at the list of Calendars Committee members below. The list includes the counties each member represents, with a link to the map of their district.  If your Representative is on this list, it is VITAL that you call and urge them to support HB 2945 and HB 92.  Encourage your friends and family who live in the district to also call!

Dustin Burrows, 512-463-0542

Borden, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Kent, Lubbock (part), Lynn, Mitchell, Scurry, Terry

David Cook, 512-463-0374

Tarrant (part)

Charlie Geren, 512-463-0610

Tarrant (part)

Cole Hefner, 512-463-0271

Camp,  Rains, Smith (part), Titus, Upshur, Wood

Ana Hernandez, 512-463-0614

Harris (part)

Ann Johnson, 512-463-0389

Harris (part)

Jared Patterson, 512-463-0694

Denton (part)

Toni Rose, 512-463-0664

Dallas (part)

Shelby Slawson, 512-463-0628

Coryell, Erath, Hamilton, Hood

James Talarico, 512-463-0821

Travis (part)

Ed Thompson, 512-463-0707

Brazoria (part)

MORE INFORMATION:

EGGS:

Unless eggs are “graded,” our farmers are not allowed to sell their eggs to restaurants or grocers  (we know some farmers who are having to THROW AWAY their eggs that don’t get sold at farmers markets or other venues where the farmers are face to face with consumers).  Grading eggs involves weighing and measuring each egg, sorting them by size, obtaining a license from the Texas Department of Agriculture, and paying fees. What grading does NOT do is provide any health or food safety benefits.

Grading is just a marketing program that Big Agribusiness uses as a tool to keep small farmers from being able to sell their eggs to the co-ops, mom & pop grocers, and local sourcing restaurants where consumers want these eggs!

HB 2945 would allow small farmers to sell ungraded eggs to restaurants and retailers, increasing consumer access to affordable, local eggs.

HOME FOOD SECURITY: 

HB 92 would protect people’s right to raise food for themselves. The bill stops cities and homeowners’ associations from banning people from having backyard gardens, poultry, or rabbits. It also protects people’s ability to have solar panels, rainwater collection, or backup generators – empowering people to provide basic necessities for themselves and their families.  The bill allows reasonable restrictions to ensure that neighbors’ rights are also protected.

For additional information on either bill, check out our fact sheets:

Ungraded Eggs (HB2945)

Home Food Security (HB 92)

Want to do even more?? Donate to our efforts, or become a member today!