Relating to honey production operations and the harvesting and packaging of honey and honeycomb, the official text

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