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Bill > AB748
WI AB748
WI AB748Exemptions from food product licensing requirements for sale of pickled fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and other shelf-stable food products prepared in a person’s home and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
summary
Introduced
12/03/2025
12/03/2025
In Committee
12/03/2025
12/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Under current law, a person is not required to obtain a food processing plant license from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to sell food products that the person prepares and cans at home in this state if all of the following apply: 1) the food products are a fruit or vegetable pickled at a certain pH level; 2) the person sells the food products at a community or social event or a farmers’ market in this state; 3) the sold food products are labeled with certain information; 4) the person displays a sign at the place of sale stating that the food product is homemade and not subject to state inspection; and 5) the person receives less than $5,000 per year from the sale of the food product. This bill creates a similar licensing exemption for nonpotentially hazardous foods prepared in a person’s home and sold at retail. The bill defines “nonpotentially hazardous food” as prepared food that does not require time and temperature control for safety to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation. The bill revises the eligibility criteria for the canned pickled foods exemption described in items 2) to 5) above so that both exemptions have similar eligibility criteria. Under the bill, the exemptions for home-prepared canned pickled foods and for home-prepared nonpotentially hazardous foods apply if: 1. The home producer registers with DATCP. DATCP must issue a registration number to the home producer except that, on request, DATCP may register and issue one registration number to multiple individuals residing in a household. The application for registration must include certain information, including a list of all food products sold at retail under the exemption and an ingredient list for each food product. 2. The home producer sells the food products directly to consumers at the physical address of the home producer’s business, by delivery, or at a community or social event or a farmers' market in this state. 3. Each container of food product that is sold is labeled with certain information, including the home producer’s registration number, the date the food product was prepared, the statement “This product was made in a private home,” and a list of ingredients, including the common name of ingredients that are major food allergens. 4. The home producer maintains liability insurance. 5. The home producer has total annual gross sales of applicable food products - home-prepared canned pickled foods and home-prepared nonpotentially hazardous foods - of less than $40,000. 6. If the home producer has annual gross sales of applicable food products of less than $10,000, the home producer displays a sign at the place of sale stating: “These food products are homemade and not subject to state inspection.” 7. If the home producer has annual gross sales of applicable food products of at least $10,000 but less than $40,000 (cottage food producer), at least one person was involved in preparing the food products who holds a certificate of food protection practices issued by DATCP. Under the bill, DATCP must, by rule, require and establish a process for home inspection of cottage food producers that prepare food products that are nonpotentially hazardous foods. DATCP must issue a certificate to cottage food producers providing notice to the public that the home where the cottage food producer’s activities are conducted has been inspected. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for home-based food producers to sell certain food products without obtaining a food processing plant license from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). The bill defines two categories of home producers: those making pickled fruits and vegetables with a low pH, and those creating "nonpotentially hazardous foods" (prepared foods that don't require temperature control to prevent bacterial growth). To qualify for the licensing exemption, home producers must register with DATCP, receive a registration number, maintain liability insurance, and meet specific labeling requirements. The bill sets annual gross sales limits at $40,000, with additional requirements for producers earning between $10,000 and $40,000 (called "cottage food producers"), who must have at least one person with a food protection practices certificate involved in food preparation. For home producers with annual sales under $10,000, a sign must be displayed indicating the food is homemade and not state-inspected. Additionally, DATCP is required to establish a home inspection process for cottage food producers and issue certificates verifying that their home preparation areas have been inspected, providing a mechanism to ensure basic food safety while supporting small-scale, home-based food businesses.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (14)
David Armstrong (R)*,
Russell Goodwin (D)*,
Chanz Green (R)*,
Rick Gundrum (R)*,
Rob Kreibich (R)*,
Paul Melotik (R)*,
Clint Moses (R)*,
Dave Murphy (R)*,
Jeff Mursau (R)*,
Jerry O'Connor (R)*,
Rob Summerfield (R)*,
Rob Swearingen (R)*,
Dan Feyen (R),
Eric Wimberger (R),
Last Action
Public hearing held (on 01/29/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab748 |
| AB748 ROCP for Committee on Consumer Protection | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/assembly/consumer_protection/1968981.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - AB748: Fiscal Estimate From DATCP | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/ab748/ab748_datcp.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB748.pdf |
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