Big news in TEXAS this week!

[GilligansGirls]

Anybody have any luck with anything yet?
I called again and was in the holding pattern for quite awhile and was suprised when an actual person (female) answered the phone. She was taking "messages" for the Gov. I did an abbreviation of my dissertation but basically said it was about more than Chickens, it's about feeding the family, not just with more nutritious eggs but also in aiding the garden with good organic compost. It's about waste management, reducing kitchen and yard scraps that would go in the landfill. Pest extermination.
This bill is on the same lines of the bill on a homeowners rights to their trees. The homeowners right to produce healthy food.
That was followed by "I'll be sure and pass that on to the Govenor. Thank you for calling" click. RIGHT!

 

[Porkchoptx]

There is still hope.
Just spoke to Van Taylor's office. They are trying to figure out which item in the special session that they can put this with (maybe property tax bill, or the trees on private land issue).
They are calling all their staff back in now and will get to work on this. She said they just got this list yesterday.
It is not a matter of the governor saying ok (but she says it doesn't hurt to call him). This will have to get approved by a house committee.
We need to contact our local senators and house members and let them know we want this.
Most of us probably have facebook accounts. Will you join me and ask your friends to ask all their Texas friends to join the fight?
As mentioned in a previous post, I think the feed store owners should jump on this. They stand to profit from all of us wanting chickens.
Good luck to us!!! She said she had heard of Backyard Chickens.com

 

[Porkchoptx]

Tell your friends how to find who represents them:
http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Zip.aspx

http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/find-your-representative/

 

[Porkchoptx]

I guess we better wait to see what bill it gets attached to in the special session before we start contacting everybody for their support but at least we can be ready. I am excited

 

[lovemy6hens]

It seems to be dead. It passed through the House committee but never made it to the floor for a vote. So disappointing.

 

[Porkchoptx]

No it is not dead yet. Might make it in the special session. Read message #172 in this thread. As soon as we can find out from Van Taylor's office which item they can attach it to then we all need to lobby for it by contacting our representatives and getting all our friends to do the same. I am also going to go around to local feed stores and get them to help by asking their customers to also write their reps. It ain't over till it's over. Also look back in the thread to get Van Taylor's office number. Give them a call. The lady I spoke to was very nice and informative.

 

[lovemy6hens]

I'm glad there is still hope!

 

[jlivings]

any new news?

 

[Porkchoptx]

UPDATE: I just spoke to Denise in Van Taylor's district office. They are still working to see where they can attach the chicken bill to a special session item. She said it will probably be closer to July 18 (when the special session begins).

I asked that they post on facebook and twitter any updates and to advise us of who we can start contacting to get this passed. She said they would and to also call her back. I told her I was going to contact chicken breeders and feed stores and get them to contact whichever representatives as well so we can get it passed. They stand to profit too so with the internet it will be very easy to send emails with the information.

If you haven't called Senator Van Taylor's office yet - PLEASE DO - so just to let them know there are a lot of people wanting this. I'm sure they will let the Senator know they are getting calls from all over the state wanting this so hopefully they will try even harder to get it in the special session.

Van Taylor's district office in Plano 972-398-9416 This was the number I called and spoke to Denise.

Van Taylor's state capital phone number: 512-463-0108 She said they were already back in Austin so I am going to call his capital office number as well.

Please call.....

 

[Kiki]

I copied your most recent post in the Texas thread.