Support Texas Raw Milk & Permit Fee Bills 
Committee Hearing this Wednesday, Feb. 27
Two important bills will have a hearing before the Texas House Public Health Committee this Wednesday, February 27.
The first bill, HB 46, would allow licensed dairy farmers to sell raw milk at farmers' markets and fairs, as well as do home delivery and make other delivery arrangements with their customers. While raw milk is legal in Texas already, the current law requires consumers to drive to the farm every time they want to buy raw milk - imposing hardship on consumers and unfairly restricting small farmers from marketing their product.
The second bill, HB 910, would cap the permit fees that could be imposed on farmers and farmers' market vendors to $50 per year per county or city.
Please forward this alert on and ask others to do the same.
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LET'S PACK THE ROOM WEDNESDAY
Please make plans to join us at the Capitol on Wednesday. We need a large turnout to let the Committee members know the level of public support for these bills. Logistic details below.
The raw milk bill, in particular, faces opposition from powerful industry groups, so we need strong grassroots support. You can have a powerful impact just by being there and signing in to support the bills. Our goal is to have a room packed with raw milk and local foods supporters, but have only a few people give short testimonies, so that we respect the legislators' time and the need for them to also hear the other bills on the agenda. Remember, by signing in, you will be listed as a witness in support of the bill, whether or not you testify. If you do wish to testify, please plan to keep your comments to no more than 3 minutes - and shorter is even better.
While you're at the Capitol, you can increase your impact by taking a few minutes to visit your Representative and Senator in person. We'll have flyers available with talking points on the raw milk bill and the farmers' market fee bill.
Please help spread the word! Invite your friends to join you and be part of taking back control of our food supply.
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1. Call your State Representative to urge him or her to co-author HB 46 (raw milk) and HB 910 (limiting fees) and help move the bills forward.
You can find out who represents you by calling the Texas Capitol Switchboard at 512-463-4630 or enter your address online at www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us
2. Email all of the Committee members to urge them to approve these bills as soon as possible. The list of Public Health Committee members and their email addresses are at the end of this alert.
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February 27, 2013 - Wednesday at 8:00 a.m.
Please try to arrive a few minutes early, so you can sign up at one of the electronic kiosks in the Capitol. The Committee will meet from 8 am to 10 am, and will re-convene in the afternoon if the hearing goes long (which hopefully it won't). If you need to leave early, that is fine. Just register in support of the bills before you leave, and you'll be listed on the witness lists in support of the bills (see "signing in" below).
www.tspb.state.tx.us/SPB/Plan/FloorPlan/Exten2.htm
PARKING
Parking is usually available at the Capitol Visitors Center, located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets at 12th and 13th Streets. You can find a map and other options also listed at www.tspb.state.tx.us/SPB/Plan/Parking.htm
WHAT TO DO
Come to the hearing room at 8 am, or a bit before, and sign in at a kiosk saying you support HB46 and HB 910. You'll be listed on the witness list even if you leave right after that. The witness list is important because, when the bill goes to the full House after the hearing, the Representatives will look to see how many people were witnesses for or against the bill.
Just 15 minutes can have an impact.
If you can stay for the hearing, sign in at the kiosk in support of the bills and then grab a seat. Simply being there and helping to fill the room with bodies who are watching the hearing in person makes an impact on the Committee members.
SIGNING IN - HOUSE WITNESS REGISTRATION
The Texas Legislature now uses electronic witness affirmation forms which are available at registration kiosks located throughout the Capitol Extension. You can save a bit of time at the Texas Capitol by creating a profile online in advance at -- but you will have to come in person the morning of the hearing to finish the process.
The website provides information about how to create a witness profile and how to access the witness registration system via mobile devices. There is also an instructional video on how to use the witness registration system. To create your profile, go to
So you can sign in, make sure you know (view upcoming meetings):
* The time and location of the hearing -- 8:00 am, Room E2.012
* Which committee -- House Public Health Committee
* Which bill numbers -- HB 46 and HB 910
If you have any questions that day, please feel free to call or send a text message to Alexandra Landeros at 512-537-2692.
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Contact Your State Representative and Senator about HB 502
Garnet Coleman
(Part of Houston - Zip Codes 77002, 003, 004, 006, 007, 010, 019, 021, 033, 048, 061, 075, 087, 089, 098)
Phone: 512-463-0524
Email: [email protected]
Nicole Collier
(Part of Tarrant County - Zip Codes 6012, 76102, 76103, 76104, 76105, 76107, 76110, 76111, 76112, 7615, 76119, 76120, 76133, 76134, 76140)
Phone: 512-463-0716
Email: [email protected]
Phillip Cortez
(Part of Bexar County - Zip Codes 78002, 006, 023, 039, 052, 073, 211, 224, 226, 227, 236, 242, 245, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255)
Phone: 512-463-0269
Email: [email protected]
Sarah Davis
(Part of Houston - Zip Codes 77002, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008, 019, 024, 025, 027, 030, 046, 056, 057, 081, 096, 098, 401)
Phone: 512-463-0389
Email: [email protected]
Bobby Guerra
(Part of Hidalgo County - Zip Codes 78501, 78503, 78504, 78539, 78572, 78573, 78574, 78577)
Phone: 512-463-0578
Email: [email protected]
Susan King
(Jones, Nolan, and Taylor Counties)
Phone: 512-463-0718
Email: [email protected]
Lois Kolkhorst
(Austin, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes, Lavaca, and Washington Counties)
Phone: 512-463-0600
Email: [email protected]
NOTE: If you are in Chairwoman Kolkhorst's district, please be sure to say, "thank you for sponsoring HB 910!", while also asking for her support for the raw milk bill (HB 46).
Jodie Laubenberg
(Part of Collin County - Zip Codes 75002, 75048, 75069, 75074, 75087, 75094, 75098, 75166, 75173, 75189, 75407)
Phone: 512-463-0186
Email: [email protected]
NOTE: Rep. Laubenberg is a joint author on the raw milk bill. If you are in her district, please be sure to say, "thank you for joint authoring the raw milk bill!", while asking for her support on the permit fees bill (HB 910).
Elliott Naishtat
(Part of the City of Austin - Zip Codes 78701, 78703, 78704, 78705, 78712, 78731, 78735, 78745, 78746, 78751, 78752, 78756, 78757, 78758, 78759)
Phone: 512-463-0668
Email: [email protected]
J.D. Sheffield
(Comanche, Coryell, Erath, Hamilton, McCulloch, Mills, San Saba, and Somervell Counties)
Phone: 512-463-0628
Email: [email protected]
Bill Zedler
(Part of Tarrant County - Zip Codes 76001, 76002, 76017, 76028, 76036, 76060, 76063, 76123, 76134, 76140)
Phone: 512-463-0374
Email: [email protected]
Thank you for speaking up for Texas farms and local foods! There are many challenges ahead as we try to pass these bills, and your participation is vital.
For more information, go to www.FarmAndRanchFreedom.org/tx-raw-milk-hearing-feb-2013
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Please forward this alert to others who are concerned about protecting locally-sourced nutrient dense foods and preserving sustainable small family farms and artisan food producers as well as defending the rights to sell and to access the foods of one's choice from the source of one's choice. 
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