Update—July 12, 2023: Unfortunately, the Texas Legislature passed H.J.R. 126, bringing this risky amendment one step closer to becoming a part of the state's Constitution. Texas voters will have the opportunity to reject this measure in the upcoming November election. While this was not the outcome we hoped for, we appreciate each action you took throughout the year to stop this amendment. Please check back periodically for updates!
House Joint Resolution 126 would create an amendment in Texas’s Constitution that severely limits the ability of local governments to regulate conditions on farms. Bills like this can make it harder to hold corporations accountable for cruelly confining animals, endangering public health and damaging the environment. It could also allow Texas farms to expand without accountability.
Industrial agriculture companies, collectively known as “Big-Ag,” prioritize profits at the expense of their own workers, surrounding neighborhoods, the environment and the animals in their care.
As people gain awareness about the devastating impacts of industrial farming, communities have taken action to combat these effects. But rather than reform their destructive practices, Big-Ag has responded by pushing "Right to Farm" laws.
These laws often take away local control and restrict citizens from disputing proposed changes to existing factory farms or protecting themselves through litigation—even if an operation has expanded significantly or employs practices that cause pollution, reduce property values and infringe upon quality of life. “Right to Farm” laws almost exclusively benefit industrial farming corporations—at the expense of everyone else.
No matter what you eat, there are many ways you can help build a more humane, sustainable and fair food system. Check out our Shop With Your Heart resources to find higher-welfare foods and other great tools.
