Bill > H758

This bill aims to promote economic opportunities for cottage food entrepreneurs by regulating and expanding the availability of cottage foods. The key provisions are: 1. Local boards of health are prohibited from establishing rules or regulations for cottage food operations. 2. The bill defines "cottage food operation" as a person who produces cottage food products only in their home kitchen for retail sale directly to consumers, and "cottage food product" as non-time/temperature control for safety foods like baked goods, jams, and other non-perishable items. 3. Cottage food operations are exempt from permitting, licensing, inspection, packaging, and labeling requirements for food establishments, except for certain labeling requirements to provide information to consumers. The Department of Public Health can establish a voluntary registry to issue personal identification numbers for cottage food product labels as an alternative to the cottage food operation's address. This bill seeks to reduce regulatory burdens and increase opportunities for small-scale, home-based food producers to sell their products directly to consumers.