Help get a bill introduced in your state

Shouldn’t you be able to buy meat directly from a farmer in your community, without the animal traveling long distances to be processed in a factory where USDA inspectors spend a few seconds to inspect it?

Right now, when a farmer nearby raises animals and wants to sell their meat to you, several obstacles stand in their way. Those obstacles limit your choices, raise the cost of available meat by several dollars per pound, and severely cut into the farmer’s income. 

Unless you buy a cow from a farmer while it is still alive, or buy a part of a living cow (e.g., a “herd share”), the route from farm to table becomes expensive, complicated, or even impossible.

Meanwhile, a handful of companies dominate meatpacking in America. USDA reported in 2024 that the four largest firms handled 85% of steer and heifer purchases and 67% of hog purchases. That concentration raises serious questions about competition, farmers’ choices, and the resilience of our food supply.

Now more than ever, we need more choice — and better access to meat raised in our communities.

Save Our Food and Farms is working to advance legislation allowing limited on-farm slaughter and direct-to-consumer meat sales, with clear requirements for sanitation, labeling, and accountability.

In New Hampshire, we are working to bring back legislation that allows this. The bill HB396 passed both houses of the legislature handily but was vetoed by the governor. Now, we are working to build the support needed to prevent and/or bypass another governor’s veto. We expect to be successful.

We also want to help get similar bills introduced in 5-10 additional states.

But we need your help to find and work with legislative sponsors who care about the issue and will champion such a bill in their state.

Deadlines for requesting bill drafts and introducing legislation are approaching in some states. Waiting until the next legislative session begins could mean missing an important opportunity.

In this short excerpt from a video on CHD-TV, Dr. Meryl Nass explains the effort and how you can help:

Here’s what you can do:

1. Contact your state representative or senator. Ask whether they would sponsor a bill allowing small farmers to process limited numbers of livestock on their farms and sell meat directly to consumers. Ask their office when drafting requests and bills must be submitted.

2. Email Dr. Nass at merylnass@gmail.com. Put “Local meat bill — [your state]” in the subject line. Tell her which legislators you have contacted, whether anyone is interested in sponsoring the proposal, and any deadlines their offices have identified. If you need background materials before approaching a legislator, email us now.

3. Bring local voices into the effort. A farmer who can explain processing difficulties, consumers who want more purchasing options, and a local food group willing to support the proposal can help a potential sponsor understand why it matters.

You don’t need to write legislation yourself. Door to Freedom can provide information, legislative materials, and guidance. Your role is to help find a willing sponsor and get the drafting and introduction process moving before the applicable deadlines.

This is a practical opportunity to expand your food choices, support nearby farms and strengthen your community’s food supply.

Please make that first contact now — and help bring a local meat bill to your state.