May 25, 2015: The raw milk bill, HB 91, passed the Texas House with a strong bipartisan vote.  But time is running out for it to pass the Senate — if it is not voted on by Wednesday at midnight, it will die.

We need your help to keep HB 91 moving, so that Texans can buy raw milk at farmers’ markets and through home delivery!

TAKE ACTION #1

Call or email your State Senator to urge him or her to support HB 91.  You can find out who your State Senator is by going to www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us  or calling the Texas Capitol Switchboard at 512-463-4630.

The message is simple:

Hi, my name is ____, and I am a constituent.  I am calling to urge Senator ______ to support  HB 91, the raw milk bill.

Feel free to add a few sentences about why this issue is important to you, or borrow from the talking points at the end of the alert.  Just remember that the staff are working long hours right now — so you want to keep your message short, clear, and polite. 

TAKE ACTION #2

Call Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and urge him to move HB 91 forward as quickly as possible.  The phone number is 512-463-0001.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HB 91, Raw Milk

You can download our latest fact sheet on HB 91 here

HB 91 by Representative Dan Flynn, would legalize the sale of raw milk by licensed farmers directly to consumers at farmers markets, and allow farmers and consumers to agree to delivery arrangements.

•  Raw milk is already legal in Texas, but the regulations restrict sales to on-the-farm only. This marketing restriction burdens both farmers and consumers.
• Only 6 illnesses have been reported linked to raw milk in Texas in the last 17 years, out of an estimated ¾ million Texans who drink raw milk
• Texas Grade A Raw for Retail dairies are subject to regulations that meet or exceed all regulatory standards for pasteurized milk.
• HB 91 simply allows licensed farmers to sell raw milk at farmers’ markets and through delivery arrangements.  Sales are limited to direct farm-to-consumer and will NOT be allowed in grocery stores.
• HB 91 improves the safety of raw dairy by allowing producers to transport it to consumers under safe conditions, rather than relying on consumers to remember to take coolers and ice.
• By allowing a farmer to make a single trip to serve multiple customers, rather than having each customer drive to the farm, the bill reduces vehicle miles, benefiting air quality, traffic congestion, and public safety.
• HB 91 benefits rural economies because direct farm-to-consumer sales of raw milk can mean the difference between a net loss on the farm and a reasonable income for the farm family.