Bill Text: TX HB519 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to honey production operations and the harvesting and packaging of honey and honeycomb.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB519 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB519-Introduced.html

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89R4059 EAS-F
By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 519

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to honey production operations and the harvesting and
packaging of honey and honeycomb.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 437.001(7), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(7) "Honey [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 or from which is extracted
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. Sections 437.0197, 437.0198, and 437.0199,
Health and Safety Code, are amended 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. Chapter 437, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 437.01991 to read as follows:
Sec. 437.01991. HONEY AS RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY. (a)
In this section, "raw agricultural commodity" has the meaning
assigned by Section 431.002.
(b) For purposes of this subtitle and other applicable law,
a honey production operation that:
(1) extracts honey from honeycomb is harvesting a raw
agricultural commodity; and
(2) bottles extracted honey and packages cut honeycomb
is packaging a raw agricultural commodity without necessitating any
additional manufacturing or processing.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.