Bill Text: TX SB1766 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to exemptions from certain regulation for small honey production operations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-05-29 - Effective on 9/1/15 [SB1766 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB1766-Enrolled.html
S.B. No. 1766 |
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relating to exemptions from certain regulation for small honey | ||
production operations. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 437.001, Health and Safety Code, is | ||
amended by adding Subdivisions (1-a) and (7) to read as follows: | ||
(1-a) "Beekeeper" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||
131.001, Agriculture Code. | ||
(7) "Small honey production operation" means a | ||
beekeeper that: | ||
(A) produces less than 2,500 pounds of honey each | ||
year; | ||
(B) sells or distributes the honey or honeycomb | ||
that the beekeeper produces either personally or with the help of | ||
the beekeeper's immediate family members; | ||
(C) only sells or distributes honey or honeycomb: | ||
(i) that is produced from a hive that is: | ||
(a) located in the state; and | ||
(b) owned and managed by the | ||
beekeeper; | ||
(ii) that is pure honey as defined by | ||
Section 131.001, Agriculture Code, and that is raw and not blended | ||
with any other product or otherwise adulterated; and | ||
(iii) directly to consumers at the | ||
beekeeper's home, a farmer's market, a farm stand, or a municipal, | ||
county, or nonprofit fair, festival, or event; and | ||
(D) delivers the honey or honeycomb that the | ||
beekeeper produces to the consumer at the point of sale or another | ||
location designated by the consumer. | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 437, Health and Safety Code, is amended | ||
by adding Sections 437.0197, 437.0198, and 437.0199 to read as | ||
follows: | ||
Sec. 437.0197. EXEMPTION FOR SMALL HONEY PRODUCTION | ||
OPERATION. A small honey production operation is not a food service | ||
establishment for purposes of this chapter. | ||
Sec. 437.0198. REGULATION OF SMALL HONEY PRODUCTION | ||
OPERATION PROHIBITED. A local government authority, including a | ||
local health department, may not regulate the production of honey | ||
or honeycomb at a small honey production operation. | ||
Sec. 437.0199. LABELING REQUIREMENTS FOR SMALL HONEY | ||
PRODUCTION OPERATION. Honey or honeycomb sold or distributed by a | ||
small honey production operation must be labeled in accordance with | ||
Subchapter E, Chapter 131, Agriculture Code. The label must | ||
include: | ||
(1) the net weight of the honey expressed in both the | ||
avoirdupois and metric systems; | ||
(2) the beekeeper's name and address; and | ||
(3) the statement "Bottled or packaged in a facility | ||
not inspected by the Texas Department of State Health Services." | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1766 passed the Senate on | ||
April 20, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1766 passed the House on | ||
May 19, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, two | ||
present not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
Approved: | ||
______________________________ | ||
Date | ||
______________________________ | ||
Governor |