83R718 JSC-D
 
  By: Rodriguez of Travis H.B. No. 970
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to regulation of cottage food products and cottage food
  production operations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 437.001(2-b), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (2-b)  "Cottage food production operation" means an
  individual, operating out of the individual's home, who:
                     (A)  produces at the individual's home a baked
  good, a canned jam or jelly, dried fruit, candy, snack food, cereal,
  granola, dry mix, vinegar, or a dried herb or herb mix for sale at
  the individual's [person's] home or at another location;
                     (B)  has an annual gross income of $50,000 or less
  from the sale of food described by Paragraph (A); and
                     (C)  sells the foods produced under Paragraph (A)
  only directly to consumers.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 437.0192, Health and
  Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 437.0192.  REGULATION OF COTTAGE FOOD PRODUCTION
  OPERATIONS BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES [HEALTH DEPARTMENT]
  PROHIBITED; COMPLAINTS.
         SECTION 3.  Section 437.0192(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A local government authority, including a local health
  department, may not regulate the production of food at a cottage
  food production operation.
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 211, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter C to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C. REGULATION OF COTTAGE FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATIONS
         Sec. 211.031.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "cottage
  food production operation" and "home" have the meanings assigned by
  Section 437.001, Health and Safety Code.
         Sec. 211.032.  CERTAIN ZONING REGULATIONS PROHIBITED. A
  municipal zoning ordinance may not prohibit the use of a home for
  cottage food production operations.
         Sec. 211.033.  ACTION FOR NUISANCE OR OTHER TORT. This
  subchapter does not affect the right of a person to bring a cause of
  action under other law against an individual for nuisance or
  another tort arising out of the individual's use of the individual's
  home for cottage food production operations.
         SECTION 5.  Chapter 231, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter M to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER M. REGULATION OF COTTAGE FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATIONS
         Sec. 231.281.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "cottage
  food production operation" and "home" have the meanings assigned by
  Section 437.001, Health and Safety Code.
         Sec. 231.282.  CERTAIN ZONING REGULATIONS PROHIBITED. A
  county zoning ordinance may not prohibit the use of a home for
  cottage food production operations.
         Sec. 231.283.  ACTION FOR NUISANCE OR OTHER TORT. This
  subchapter does not affect the right of a person to bring a cause of
  action under other law against an individual for nuisance or
  another tort arising out of the individual's use of the individual's
  home for cottage food production operations.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.