Bill H.401 proposes to amend existing laws regarding licensing fees and exemptions for food manufacturing establishments in Vermont. The bill aims to exempt food manufacturing establishments with gross annual receipts of less than $30,000 from licensing fees. Additionally, it seeks to exempt individuals who manufacture and sell bakery products from their home kitchens, provided their gross annual receipts also do not exceed $30,000. The bill emphasizes enhancing food resiliency, increasing access to local food markets, and supporting small-scale food producers and new business start-ups by adjusting the licensing exemption limits to account for inflation.

Key amendments include changes to the fee structure for food manufacturing establishments, where the previous exemption threshold of $10,000 has been raised to $30,000. The bill also modifies the language regarding home kitchen bakers, replacing "his or her" with "the individual's" for inclusivity. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, reflecting the legislative intent to support local food production and address economic conditions affecting small food businesses.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 18-4353, 18-4358