HB 2844 was created with a good purpose: to simplify the permitting process for mobile food vendors by replacing a patchwork of local permits with one statewide system. As a Texas small business owner, I support that goal. Consistent health and safety standards benefit both vendors and the public.

However, the current licensing structure has created an unintended consequence.

A family-owned food trailer that serves one local community is now expected to pay the same statewide licensing costs as a business that travels across Texas every week. While larger operations may benefit from a statewide permit, many small businesses never leave their home county or neighboring communities.

For many owner-operated vendors, these increased costs are not just an inconvenience—they can determine whether a business survives.

This isn't about avoiding regulation. We believe in food safety, inspections, and accountability. It's about creating a licensing system that is fair and proportional to the size and scope of a business.

We are asking the Texas Legislature to improve HB 2844 by considering the following changes:

Create tiered licenses based on where a vendor operates (local, regional, and statewide).

Reduce licensing fees for owner-operated businesses and single-unit vendors.

Allow businesses to upgrade to a statewide license by paying only the difference in cost.

Offer seasonal or temporary licenses for vendors who operate only during fairs, festivals, farmers markets, or other limited events.

Ensure licensing fees are proportional to the size and operating area of the business.

These changes would preserve the original intent of HB 2844 while ensuring that Texas' smallest businesses are not disproportionately affected.

Texas has always been a place where hard work and entrepreneurship are valued. Family-owned food trucks and trailers are more than businesses—they create jobs, support local events, serve their communities, and contribute to local economies.

We respectfully ask our state legislators, including the author of HB 2844, to work with small business owners to refine this law so it serves all mobile food vendors—not just those that operate statewide.

If you believe regulations should protect public health without placing unnecessary burdens on small businesses, please sign this petition and share it with others.

Together, we can improve HB 2844 and keep Texas a place where small businesses can thrive.