HB 307 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
20Mar2025... 0655h
2025 SESSION
25-0483
08/05
HOUSE BILL 307
AN ACT relative to the food production area for homestead food.
SPONSORS: Rep. Bixby, Straf. 13; Rep. J. Aron, Sull. 4; Rep. Aylward, Merr. 5; Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. M. Murray, Hills. 37; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows homestead food production in a food production area.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20Mar2025... 0655h 25-0483
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to the food production area for homestead food.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Homestead Food Operation; Definition. Amend RSA 143-A:12, I(a) to read as follows:
(a) "Homestead food operation" means a person who produces homestead food products, excluding potentially hazardous food, only in the home kitchen of that person's primary residence in New Hampshire or a food production area in the person's primary residence that has handwashing, equipment and food storage, food contact surfaces, general sanitation, and pet exclusion areas. As used in this subparagraph:
(1) "Handwashing" means an area with access to a hand cleaning station with hot and cold running potable water, soap, and sanitary hand drying provisions.
(2) "Equipment and food storage" means an area that allows for food, equipment, and utensils to be stored in a manner that prevents contamination.
(3) "Food contact surfaces" means all food contact surfaces in an area able to be cleaned and sanitized.
(4) "General sanitation" means an area maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, free from pests and environmental contaminants, whose floors, walls, and ceiling surfaces are durable, smooth and easily cleanable.
(5) "Pet exclusion" means an area that allows for the exclusion of pets during food production.
2 Homestead Food Production Area. Amend RSA 143-A:12, IV to read as follows:
IV. All homestead food products sold in packages from the home [kitchen,] or farm stand of a homestead food operation, at farmers' markets, or at retail food stores shall have individual labels on each package containing the following information: name, address, and phone number of the homestead food operation; name of the homestead food product; the ingredients of the homestead product, in descending order of predominance by weight; and allergy information. Products made by homestead food operations exempt from licensure shall also be clearly labeled with the following statement: "This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection." Products made by nonexempt homestead food operations shall also be clearly labeled with the following statement: "This product is made in a residential [kitchen] food production area licensed by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services."
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 6, 2025 | 2025-0655h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 11, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 18, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| March 4, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| March 4, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 1, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| April 17, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
April 17, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/17/2025; SJ 10
April 9, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/17/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
March 25, 2025: Hearing: 04/01/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:40 am; SC 15
March 24, 2025: Introduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 9
March 20, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0655h: MA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 12
March 20, 2025: Amendment # 2025-0655h: AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 12
March 7, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0655h 03/04/2025 (Vote 14-0; CC)
Feb. 20, 2025: Executive Session: 03/04/2025 11:20 am LOB 301-303
Feb. 20, 2025: Full Committee Work Session: 03/04/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
Feb. 12, 2025: Executive Session: 02/18/2025 10:45 am LOB 301-303
Feb. 12, 2025: Full Committee Work Session: 02/18/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
Feb. 5, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/11/2025 03:00 pm LOB 301-303
Jan. 8, 2025: Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 2 P. 14