Yay! *doing my happy dance*

Hopefully the ball keeps rolling the right direction!

I'm back after a 2 year cake hiatus. Thanks for all your work on this. I signed the petition minutes ago.

This is great!!! I think I was 1257. What else can I do? Would love to ditch the day job and be my own boss. I hate having to follow the book and make the same cake as millions of others have. Where is the creativity?

Oh that is great news Kelley! If I can do anything to help, let me know!

I just posted the petition on several of my meetup group message boards and on my myspace page!! I hope Im not too late!!!!!

It is NOT too late. It won't be too late until the bill is signed or officially dead. Right now we need all our elected officials to know how important this is to us!

Web Site (with link to petition):
www.TexasCottageFoodLaw.com

I just signed and I was #1299! How many more do we need?

Well, there's 24 million people in Texas, so..... we need 23,998,700 or so.

But seriously - we can't have too many. We need to keep getting names, and having people contact their representatives and senators until the day the bill is signed.

If we get to the point where there is an actual bill, then we will need to shift our efforts to 1) making your senators and representatives aware of the bill and asking them to vote for it, and 2) arranging people to be present at the public hearings.

But I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. Right now the Dept. of Agriculture is working on a "recommendation" and I am anxiously waiting to hear from Senator Ogden's office as to what that recommendation might be.

Do we have a timeline of when that may happen??

No clue. But things are definitely in motion.

Can we go and light a fire under their hoohahs?

Heh..you bring the matches, I'll bring the kindling.

I spoke again today with Jennifer Bartos, owner of All In One Bake Shop. I told her about our idea for the "Capitol Cake Walk", and asked her if she might consider providing REAL cake for the event (since her bakery is obviously licensed). She not only agreed to provide cake, but said she would take care of the health department permits and fees (about $35 for a temporary permit). GO, Jennifer! If it really happens, though, I would like to take up a small collection to help her cover her costs. Imagine what a great event we could have, hopefully with media coverage!!!

You can count me in for a donation! That is so kind of her!

when, where, and what can I do hahaha capital walk where??? when and what can I do?

Right now it is just an idea, something we would like to do if we get a bill introduced. First things first, gotta get a bill.

Anybody wanna join me in a little

I'm really confused. I see women advertising their cakes that are baked at home. I was planning on doing the same until I came across this post. Where can I go to read about the law that prohibits this. I wonder why the law isn't being enforced in my Texas town. Thanks for the heads up

I am just a bill, sittin' on capital hill the good ole days

Back then I don't think they needed a bill just comon sense!

thanks for the link. I am still confused though. If my garage is set up with a hand sink, 3 part sink, walls, floor, ceiling, vermin proof doors, outside door, etc is that a legal kitchen IF the zone is OK?

Yes, that's fine, as long as the health department approves it. What's against the lasw are RESIDENTIAL kitchens- where you're making cakes in your home.

I was told that the kitchen had to be completely detached from the home. So, the garage would be a no go. There could be no entrance to the home whatsoever. I got this from the state.

I find this intriguing. I was just on a website belonging to a new member here who's located in TX. On this site, she actually uses the "I bake from home so there's no overhead" line in her "about us" section. What gives? I mean, I'm in MA so it doesn't effect me, I guess I'm just wondering why someone would advertise that they're breaking the law. Maybe they don't know they are?

There is a lady here in town who advertised the same, perhaps is the same. She does most everything from home but bakes in a church with the HD ok. Not sure what all is done at home, but guessing just paper work and food is at the church.

Disclaimer: I am not a mod or the "owner" of the thread, just a passionately interested party....

BUT

Since we are making great progress and may actually have a chance of changing the law this session, I think it would be great if we could focus on all the positive things that are happening, rather than wondering how other people run their businesses.

http://texascottagefoodlaw.com/
http://www.petitiononline.com/TXCotFd/petition.html

I second that motion. I've had that issue as well. Let's just work together and get this done!

OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!

I just got off the phone with Patrick in Rep. Gattis office......

THEY HAVE REQUESTED A DRAFT OF LEGISLATION FOR THIS!!!

Legislation is drafted by the Legislative Committee (ie: Lawyers). Rep. Gattis has requested several versions: A version WITH licensure and regulation, and a version with a blanket exemption for home bakery items.

Patrick was careful to tell me that this does NOT guarantee that the legislation will be filed.

But the wheels are in motion, people!!!!!!!

The deadline for filing legislation is March 31, so we will know by then.

Do any of you live in Rep. Gattis' district? (Parts of Williamson and all of Milam County.) If you, or your family or friends do, then CALL OR WRITE his office and ask him to file this legislation when it is drafted!!

Oh, I'm shaking, y'all. This is fabulous.

This is wonderful news! Thank you so much for your hard work everyone. Finally a little good news in the midst of all the bad economy news.

OMG! you are totally awesome! That IS wonderful news indeed!

That IS really great news! YAY!