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Committee approves updated food service fees, adds mobile vendor carve-outs
Summary
The committee concurred on HB853, updating fees for food-service licensing and adopting an amendment to address mobile food vendors by creating two-sized categories so smaller operators are not disproportionately burdened.
Senator Novak moved and the committee adopted an amendment to House Bill 853, which revises licensing fees for food establishments and related categories. The sponsor and department worked with stakeholders to adjust the treatment of mobile food vendors, splitting them into two size-based categories so smaller mobile vendors are not forced into a disproportionately higher new fee tier.
Committee members debated the equity of fee increases and the revenue flow between state and county sanitarians who perform inspections. County sanitarians and commissioners who provided input said previous fee levels were insufficient to cover inspection costs and that updated fees will reduce county taxpayer burdens in many counties. Some members expressed concern that fees are rising broadly across sessions and argued for examining funding sources, but the amendment and bill ultimately passed the committee and will move to the Senate floor.
Next steps: HB853 will proceed to the Senate floor as amended; counties and the Department of Revenue will implement new fee structures and communicate changes to licensees.
