LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) – “There’s a lot of laws that people don’t realize. So, every time a vendor come up here, we’re constantly telling them you can’t have this, you have to make sure you correct this,” Tracey Duprie, owner of Duprie Farms said.
Senate Bill 541, known as the Texas Food Freedom Act of 2025, was recently signed into law, having some cottage food vendors excited about the changes.
“It will benefit everyone because we can expand our businesses,” Cathy Stowe, owner of Cathy’s Creations, said.
Stowe sells her home-made jams, jellies, and sauces at the Angelina County Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. With the new law, she’ll be able to place her non-refrigerated products in other businesses. It’s just one way the law aims to expand the reach and fulfill the need for locally produced foods while supporting home-based businesses.
“I have people, boutique places wanting me to set up and I have to turn them down cause right now the law states that I cannot do that,” Stowe said.
As of now, cottage food vendors have to sell directly to the customer.
Duprie who also sells canned foods at the Angelina County Farmer’s Market took notice of the changes. She said her business is more of a hobby, but she also uses it to teach her home-schooled children about finances.
“The only thing I’m truly glad about is removing my address, I don’t want anyone to know where my kids live,” Duprie said.
The law also allows for the sale of some refrigerated foods like baked goods; vendors can pass out food samples without a permit and the annual sales cap for cottage businesses was increased from $50,000 thousand $150,000.
In a statement, Rep. Lacey Hull, the author of the bill said, “It’s past time for the government to let informed consumers have access to the options they want and allow small businesses to thrive.”
“Over the last couple of years, they have really stepped up and helped out us cottage food vendors. And this year’s a really really big milestone in the Texas Cottage Food Law,” Stowe said.
The bill was signed into law on Friday and goes into effect September 1.
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