Texas: the home-kitchen movement
Cottage food (restricted) Cottage food law
Texas runs a state-level cottage food law (Health & Safety Code ch. 437) with no MEHKO/microenterprise home-kitchen program. SB 541 (2025), effective September 1, 2025, expanded it into near-food-freedom: almost any home-produced food except six prohibited categories can be sold directly to Texas consumers, and local health departments are barred from requiring permits or fees.
Where it stands
SB 541 (89R, 2025; authored by Kolkhorst, House sponsor Hull) — signed by the governor May 30, 2025, effective September 1, 2025 — was the biggest change: sales cap raised $50,000 → $150,000 with annual CPI-U inflation adjustment; allowed foods flipped from a non-TCS-only list to 'any food except' the six prohibited categories (TCS foods now legal with registration + handling rules); nonprofit organizations added to the definition; new 'cottage food vendor' wholesale tier created (non-TCS, non-baked-goods foods may be wholesaled to registered vendors for retail resale); DSHS registration registry launched; local preemption strengthened — local governments may not regulate production or require any license, permit, or fee, and may not employ a person who knowingly requires one; and mail-order sales were removed as an authorized channel. Companion HB 2588 ('Food Freedom Act') was laid on the table after SB 541's House substitute took its language. Texas holds regular sessions in odd years, so there is no 2026 regular session and no pending cottage-food bills were found; the next session is the 90th Legislature in January 2027.
Residents can find and support local kitchens through the Texas hub — browse kitchens, read the law guide, and see what is cooking near you.
Cottage food fight in Texas
5 supporter(s) and 0 opposition entr(ies) on this page carry this track tag — see Supporters / Opposition below.
- 2025 — Cottage food law
SB 541 (89R, 2025; authored by Kolkhorst, House sponsor Hull) — signed by the governor May 30, 2025, effective September 1, 2025 — was the biggest change: sales cap raised $50,000 → $150,000 with annual CPI-U inflation adjustment; allowed foods flipped from a non-TCS-only list to 'any food except' the six prohibited categories (TCS foods now legal with registration + handling rules); nonprofit organizations added to Source
How we got here
- 2025 — Cottage food law Cottage food fight
SB 541 (89R, 2025; authored by Kolkhorst, House sponsor Hull) — signed by the governor May 30, 2025, effective September 1, 2025 — was the biggest change: sales cap raised $50,000 → $150,000 with annual CPI-U inflation adjustment; allowed foods flipped from a non-TCS-only list to 'any food except' the six prohibited categories (TCS foods now legal with registration + handling rules); nonprofit organizations added to Source - — Cottage food law Cottage food fight
Companion HB 2588 ('Food Freedom Act') was laid on the table after SB 541's House substitute took its language. Source - 2026 — Cottage food law
Texas holds regular sessions in odd years, so there is no 2026 regular session and no pending cottage-food bills were found; the next session is the 90th Legislature in January 2027. Source
Supporters
On the public record supporting home kitchens in Texas.
Lois Kolkhorst Cottage food fight
State Senator; author of SB 541 (2025), the major cottage food expansion
Source: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/analysis/pdf/SB00541I.pdf
Lacey Hull Cottage food fight
State Representative; integral to passing SB 541 in 2025
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance Cottage food fight
Made Texas cottage food a legislative priority and supported SB 541 in committee
Source: https://citizenportal.ai/articles/6286975/texas/legislative/sena
Homemade Texas Cottage food fight
Home-producer advocacy group that supported SB 541
Source: https://homemadetexas.org/sb-541-passes-effective-september-1-20
Institute for Justice Cottage food fight
Supported SB 541 in committee testimony
Source: https://citizenportal.ai/articles/6286975/texas/legislative/sena
Opposition
No on-record opposition has been verified for this state yet.
The deciders
Governor
Greg Abbott
Committee: Senate Health & Human Services Committee — official record
Contact the deciders
A pre-written letter in Texas's own terminology. The buttons open it in your email — addressed by you to the office above. Nothing sends until you press send.