HB519 - Relating to honey production operations and the harvesting and packaging of honey and honeycomb.

      H.B. No. 519         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.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 519 was passed by the House on April   30, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 105, Nays 32, 2 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 519 was passed by the Senate on May   25, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor