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HB 307 · 2025 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Homestead food production areas

AI-generated

relative to the food production area for homestead food.

Allows homestead food production within a food production area.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill allows homestead food production in a food production area.

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

“"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.”
Section 46:1
“Products made by homestead food operations exempt from licensure shall also be clearly labeled with the following statement:”
Section 46:2
“"Handwashing" means an area with access to a hand cleaning station with hot and cold running potable water, soap, and sanitary hand drying provisions.”
Section 46:3
“Products made by nonexempt homestead food operations shall also be clearly labeled with the following statement:”
Section 46:4

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
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair· Commerce
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

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

Public testimony

62 signed in online · 9 wrote testimony

94% support5% oppose2% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I urge you to SUPPORT HB307. This bill will allow fellow Granite Staters more freedom on how they prepare their homestead products. I urge you to SUPPORT HB307 as this will be beneficial to our New Hampshire farms and communities. Sincerely, James”
— James Gardner, Keenesupports
“I support HB 307 because it increases consumer freedom by allowing consumers to have greater access to cottage food goods in New Hampshire and would keep more of the food dollar in local communities with the increase in locally-produced foods consumers can obtain.”
— Diane Hashem, Thorntonsupports
“Please make it easier for small businesses to survive and thrive.”
— Janet Oliver, BARRINGTONsupports
“There should be one established place on a homestead that is inspected yearly to allow homesteads to make food. Also, there's no point on a bill if no one is enforcing this bill”
— Megan Ferentino, South Hamptonopposes

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
  • Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0655h14–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0655hadopted
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0655hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 17, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 17, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1913eadopted
  • May 8, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture6:06:34–6:07:421m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture10:01–11:101m 9slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture2:05:11–2:08:593m 48slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0655h; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0655h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0655h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingSenate Commerce9:37–10:471m 10slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • 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 # 2025-1913e — adopted, voice vote
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1913e 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. 14
  2. Feb 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 03:00 pm LOB 301-303
  3. Feb 18, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/18/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  4. Feb 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2025 10:45 am LOB 301-303
  5. Mar 4, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/04/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  6. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 11:20 am LOB 301-303
  7. Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0655h 03/04/2025 (Vote 14-0; CC)
  8. Mar 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0655h: AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 12
  9. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0655h: MA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 12
  10. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 9
  11. Apr 1, 2025SenHearing: 04/01/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:40 am; SC 15
  12. Apr 17, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/17/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
  13. Apr 17, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/17/2025; SJ 10
  14. May 1, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1913e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/01/2025); SJ 12
  15. May 1, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1913e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 32
  16. May 8, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/08/2025); SJ 13
  17. May 8, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 59
  18. May 29, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 05/29/2025; Chapter 46; I. Sec 1 & 3 eff. as in sec 5 P I II. Sec 2 & 4 eff as in sec 5 PII III. Rem eff 07/28/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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