Ways & Means concurs with Senate amendment creating $30,000 cottage‑food exemption

The Ways & Means panel on Oct. 11 concurred with a Senate amendment that creates a new category of "cottage food" producers and exempts operators with annual gross receipts under $30,000 from licensure and licensure fees.

The change, described by Katie McLean, Legislative Council, will exempt a home food producer "who has gross receipts under $30,000" from a license and related fee; the Senate version establishes the new "cottage food" category rather than altering multiple existing categories. McLean said the category covers foods that "do not require refrigeration or time or temperature control for safety," and listed examples discussed in the bill text.

Why it matters: the bill shifts which small, home‑based food operations pay licensing fees and face inspections. The fiscal office told the panel the revenue effect is small: "the original fiscal note found that de…