| Three great bills have passed the Texas House … but we still have to get them through the Senate. If they don’t get committee hearings by next week, they will die. If you act now, these bills still have a chance!
A two-minute call could save all three!
Over 1,000 bills have been passed by the House, and now have to compete for time and attention in the Senate. Add to that the opposition from Big Ag and taxing authorities, and we face an uphill battle … so your calls today are essential to keep these three important bills alive!
Call your Texas State Senator now:
Look up your Senator HERE
And tell them:
Sample script: “Hi, my name is ___ and I live in [town]. I’m calling to ask my Senator to support three great bills for small farmers: HB 2945, HB 3373, and HB 3857. [SHARE A FEW SENTENCES ABOUT WHY YOU CARE: Are you a farmer who is directly impacted? A consumer who wants more access to affordable local foods]. I ask that my Senator co-author all of these bills and help them get hearings.”
That’s it! You did it!
If enough of you call this week, the needs of small farmers and expanded local food options will be heard.
More Information on each bill:
1. Get better access to locally raised eggs: HB 2945
HB 2945 provides new opportunities for farmers, and better access to locally raised eggs for consumers, by allowing small farmers to sell ungraded eggs to restaurants and retailers without the burdens of grading (which is a marketing program and provides no health and safety benefits).
2. Protect small produce farms from government overreach: HB 3373
We successfully fought to get small produce farms exempted from new regulations at the federal level back in 2010. But the Texas Department of Agriculture is ignoring those exemptions, and requiring every small produce farmer to allow government officials to come onto their farm. HB 3373 clarifies that TDA’s authority does not extend to imposing this intrusive requirement on small Texas farmers.
3. Provide fair taxes for small farmers: HB 3857
Counties across the state are unfairly denying “agricultural valuation” on small farmers – and they flatly deny that raising fruits and vegetables is an agricultural activity! HB 3857 says that raising “fruits and vegetables” counts as agriculture and sets up a process to develop clear, fair guidelines for all small farmers to get the same tax benefits as large ones.
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