| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Positive | Neutral | Neutral | Positive | Neutral |
Relating to exemptions from certain regulation for small honey production operations.
SB 1766, if passed, would modify the Health and Safety Code
(Section 437.001) by exempting small honey producers from certain regulations,
namely that small honey production will not be considered a food service for
the purpose of this section (437.0197). “Small honey producers” are here
defined as those individuals who sell only honey and/or honeycomb, sell less
than 2,500 pounds per year, and are assisted only by members of their immediate
family. If these small honey producers are exempted they would also be required
to obey certain labeling requirements, namely that all honey sold have its
weight expressed in both imperial (avoirdupois) and metric units, include the
beekeeper’s name and address, and include the statement “Bottled or packaged in
a facility not inspected by the Texas Department of Health Services”.
SB 1766 is a step in the correct direction in terms of
regulation. Beekeepers who run relatively small commercial operations would
have the option of conforming to the existing regulatory regime under the
Health and Safety Code, or the alternative regime which would be established by
this bill. Though such change could certainly go further, SB 1766 is a
step in the right direction. On the grounds of free market and limited
government, we support SB 1766.