Bill

Bill > SB739


WI SB739

WI SB739
Exemptions 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
12/12/2025
In Committee
12/12/2025
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 LRB-5642/1 ARG:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 739 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 expands exemptions for home-based food producers to sell certain foods without a food processing plant license from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). The bill defines "nonpotentially hazardous food" as prepared food that does not require time and temperature control to prevent bacterial growth, and creates a new licensing exemption for such foods. Home producers must register with DATCP, receive a registration number, and meet several requirements to sell their products, including selling directly to consumers at their home, a farmers market, or by delivery. Each product must be labeled with the producer's name, registration number, preparation date, and a statement that it was made in a private home, with special attention to listing major food allergens. Producers must maintain liability insurance and have total annual gross sales under $40,000. Small producers (those with sales under $10,000) must display a sign stating the products are homemade and not state-inspected, while cottage food producers (those with sales between $10,000 and $40,000) must have at least one person with a food protection practices certificate involved in preparation. DATCP is required to establish a home inspection process for cottage food producers and issue certificates confirming these inspections.

Committee Categories

Transportation and Infrastructure

Sponsors (14)

Last Action

Fiscal estimate received (on 01/28/2026)

bill text


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