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HB 279 · 2025 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Study of homestead food recipes

AI-generated

establishing a committee to study recipe and process approval for homestead foods.

Establishes a committee to study recipe and process approval for homestead food operations.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · May 30, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill establishes a committee to study recipe and process approval for homestead foods.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“There is established a committee to study recipe and process approval for homestead foods.”
Section 44:1
“Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.”
Section 44:2
“The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 90 days of the effective date of this section.”
Section 44:4
“The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2025.”
Section 44:5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Peter BixbyDPrimeRanking Member· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Heath HowardDDeputy Ranking Member· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair· Commerce
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Also: Rep. Deborah AylwardR, Rep. Barbara ComtoisR, Rep. Megan MurrayD

Public testimony

47 signed in online · 6 wrote testimony

83% support11% oppose6% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I started a small sourdough cottage bakery in August of 2024. This bill would help allow me to occasionally offer special items, which would engage and draw in a new customer base.…”
— Sheila Fowler, Center Barnsteadsupports
“I produce homestead foods in NH and the hurdles to introducing new recipes to my customers is insane in this state! As part of a former military family, I have participated in cottage foods all over this country and NH is one of the most restrictive I have ever worked in.…”
— Tara Stolz, Milfordsupports
“I am both a market gardener and President of Gilmanton's Own, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization with a mission of supporting local agriculture and farmers.…”
— Virginia Sapiro, Gilmantonsupports
“I would like to see a subject matter expert on this committee, such as a member of the DHHS Bureau of Public Health Protection Food Protection Section staff.”
— Patricia Anastasia, Londonderryneutral
“Neutral because opening this would require a lot of pros and cons before deciding”
— Megan Ferentino, South Hamptonneutral

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 11, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass13–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 17, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 17, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1805eadopted
  • May 8, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture4:09:08–4:14:535m 45slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 25, 2025Public hearingSenate Commerce31:35–33:201m 45slocated in the stream transcript==TIME CHANGE== Hearing
  • Apr 17, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1805e — adopted, voice vote
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1805e Adopted — voice vote
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 2 P. 13
  2. Feb 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 01:00 pm LOB 301-303
  3. Feb 11, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2025 01:00 pm LOB 301-303
  4. Feb 11, 2025House: Ought to Pass 02/11/2025 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 12 P. 6
  5. Feb 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 6
  6. Mar 6, 2025SenIntroduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 7
  7. Mar 25, 2025Sen==TIME CHANGE== Hearing: 03/25/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:00 am; SC 14
  8. Apr 17, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/17/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
  9. Apr 17, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/17/2025; SJ 10
  10. May 1, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1805e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/01/2025); SJ 12
  11. May 1, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1805e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 32
  12. May 8, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/08/2025); SJ 13
  13. May 8, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 59
  14. May 29, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 05/29/2025; Chapter 44; eff. 05/29/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.