Visit www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us or call the Capitol Switchboard at 512-463-4630. The Switchboard can connect you directly to your legislators' offices if you wish.

Call your State Representative. Ask to speak to the staffer who handles food or agricultural issues. Please be courteous as this helps to build good relations with the Texas legislature.

Message: "Hi, my name is ____ and I am a constituent. I am calling to urge Representative ___ to co-author HB 91, to legalize the sale of raw milk at farmers markets and through delivery. Do you know where he/she stands on this bill?"

If the staffer says that they don't know where their boss stands (which is common), say: "I would appreciate it if you would call me back after talking with Representative _____. This issue is very important to me and my family."
 

Call your State Senator. Ask to speak to the staffer who handles food or agricultural issues. Please be courteous as this helps to build good relations with the Texas legislature.

Message: "Hi, my name is ____ and I am a constituent. I am calling to urge Senator ___ to file a companion bill* to HB 91, to legalize the sale of raw milk at farmers' markets and through delivery. Do you know where he/she stands on this bill?"

If the staffer says that they don't know where their boss stands (which is common), say: "I would appreciate it if you would call me back after talking with Senator ____. This issue is very important to me and my family."

*A "companion bill" is the term for when a legislator files the exact same bill in another chamber. In other words, you're asking your senator to file a copy of HB 91 in the Senate. This is important because it gives the bill a much better chance to pass!
 

Facts about HB 91:

• It would allow licensed farmers to sell raw milk at farmers' markets and through delivery arrangements.
• It makes no other change to the existing health and safety regulations for raw milk that have been successful in protecting the public's health in Texas.
• Sales would continue to be limited to direct-to-consumer transactions, as they are currently. The bill does not allow sales of raw milk in grocery stores.

Advantages to HB 91:

• It addresses the consumer demand for high-quality raw milk by making it available at farmers markets and through home delivery.
• It would benefit rural economies because direct farm-to-consumer sales of raw milk can mean the difference between a net loss on the farm and a reasonable income for the farm family, which impacts the entire community.
• It would improve the safety of raw milk by allowing producers to transport it to consumers under safe conditions.
• By allowing a producer to make a single trip to serve multiple customers, rather than having each customer drive to the farm, the bill reduces vehicle miles, thereby benefiting air quality, traffic congestion, and public safety.