Texas 2013 83rd Regular

Texas House Bill HB970 Introduced / Bill

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                    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.