Committee reviews H.401 to raise home food-producer thresholds; health department to testify

The House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, & Forestry took testimony and reviewed H.401, a bill that would change licensing thresholds and fee structure for food-manufacturing establishments and home food producers.

Katie McLean of the Office of Legislative Council summarized the bill for the committee, saying the measure "lifts the monetary threshold so that more products ... wouldn't have to pay either the licensing fee or they'd be exempt from licensing altogether." She told members the draft raises the gross-receipts threshold that currently exempts some home food producers from licensing from $10,000 (non-bakery) and $6,500 (home bakery annualized) to $30,000.

McLean explained the bill also simplifies the fee schedule: under the draft, producers below the $30,000 threshold would be exempt from fees and, in some cases, from licensing requirements that previously applied to bakery categories. She urged the committee to consult…