Relating to egg grading and the selling of ungraded eggs; requiring an occupational license.
Summary
SB 1864 revises Texas law governing the sale of ungraded eggs produced by a person’s own flock. The bill allows producers to sell any quantity of ungraded eggs directly to consumers in Texas and, subject to limits, to sell up to 400 dozen per week at wholesale to restaurants, small grocery stores, and certain cooperative entities. It also requires specific carton labeling, including the word “ungraded,” the producer’s name and address, the packing date, and, for wholesale sales, the producer’s license number.
The bill creates or reinforces an occupational licensing requirement for wholesale sales of ungraded eggs. A producer may not sell at wholesale unless licensed as an ungraded dealer-wholesaler by the Department of Agriculture, and wholesale sellers must keep records, refrigerate eggs within 36 hours of collection, maintain them at 45 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and comply with sanitation rules. The bill also prohibits state agencies and political subdivisions from blocking certain purchasers from buying, reselling, or using these eggs, and directs the Department of Agriculture to adopt implementing rules.
Impact
SB 1864 would amend Section 132.002 of the Agriculture Code to expand and clarify the legal market for ungraded eggs while adding regulatory conditions for wholesale distribution. It affects egg producers, restaurants, small grocery stores, cooperatives, and the Texas Department of Agriculture by setting labeling, licensing, refrigeration, recordkeeping, and sanitation requirements. It also limits local or state interference with the resale or use of these eggs by specified purchasers.
Sentiment
The available record suggests little overt controversy in the legislative history provided, and the bill advanced to the House General State Calendar. The absence of committee transcript debate and the procedural votes shown indicate the measure moved through the process without recorded opposition in the supplied materials. Overall, the bill appears to have been treated as a regulatory and market-access measure rather than a highly contentious policy proposal.
Contention
The main policy tension in the bill is between expanding direct and wholesale sales opportunities for small egg producers and imposing an occupational license plus food-safety compliance obligations on wholesale sellers. Supporters would likely favor the broader market access for local producers and the preemption of local restrictions, while any critics would likely focus on whether the licensing and handling requirements are burdensome or whether the bill sufficiently protects public health. The bill text itself does not identify specific opposing groups, and no committee testimony is provided.