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• Introduced by Sen. Phil Rockefeller, (D-Kitsap County) (D) on February 9, 2011, to exempt cottage food operations from the licensing and evaluation provisions of the Washington food processing act. “Cottage food operations” means a person who produces or packages non-hazardous food products only in a kitchen of that person's primary domestic residence in Washington.
  • Referred to the Senate Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Committee on February 9, 2011.
    • Substitute offered in the Senate on February 15, 2011, to corrects the definition of cottage food product which clarifies that cottage food products do not include all potentially hazardous food regulated by the federal government, such as meat and poultry products. The limit to qualify for the exemption is increased from $5,000 to $15,000 per year. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on February 15, 2011.
  • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on February 22, 2011.
    • Amendment offered by Sen. Phil Rockefeller, (D-Kitsap County) (D) on March 4, 2011, to offer technical amendments. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on March 4, 2011.
• Passed 47 to 2 in the Senate on March 4, 2011, exempts cottage food operations from the licensing and evaluation provisions of the Washington food processing act. “Cottage food operations” means a person who produces or packages non-hazardous food products only in a kitchen of that person's primary domestic residence in Washington, but does not include all potentially hazardous food regulated by the federal government, such as meat and poultry products. The limit to qualify for the exemption is $15,000 per year.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on March 7, 2011.
  • Referred to the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee on March 7, 2011.
    • Amendment offered in the House on March 22, 2011, requires the cottage food operations to be licensed by the DOH; caps maximum annual income of a cottage food operation at $12,000; requires a cottage food operation to be inspected by a local health jurisdiction or submit proof of a food worker's card; and requires specificity on the label of a cottage food indicating that the product was not inspected. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on March 22, 2011.
  • Referred to the House Health & Human Services Appropriations & Oversight Committee on March 24, 2011.
    • Amendment offered in the House on March 29, 2011, creates a new chapter in Title 69 RCW dedicated to cottage foods; requires annual inspections of cottage food operations to be conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) or by a local health jurisdiction under contract with the WSDA; sets the maximum annual income of a cottage food operation at $12,000; sets fees associated with a cottage food permit at: $125 for inspection, $30 for processing, and $75 for public health review; provides specific inspection and warrant authority to the WSDA with acknowledgement by the applicants that they understand that inspections of their home will occur; specifies the items on which the WSDA inspector must focus; establishes penalties for noncompliance; and specifies that a home kitchen may contain one or more stoves or ovens. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on March 29, 2011.
  • Referred to the House Rules Committee on March 31, 2011.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Kristine Lytton, (D-Anacortes) (D) on April 7, 2011, to limit the inspection authority of the Department of Agriculture, as it relates to cottage food operations, to the area of the domestic residence where cottage food products are prepared, packaged, stored, or handled; similarly limits the area where a court-issued inspection warrant may apply. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on April 7, 2011.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. J.T. Wilcox, (R-Yelm) (R) on April 7, 2011, to change the annual gross sales limit for cottage food operations from $12,000 to a limit of $15,000 that is to be adjusted for inflation biennially. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on April 7, 2011.
• Passed 92 to 0 in the House on April 7, 2011, to create a new category of food processing license is for cottage food operations that have gross sales of under $10,000 per year. The license fee for this new category is set at $30 per year, as compared to a minimum of $55 per year under current law. License fees are paid to the Department of Agriculture.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on April 21, 2011, Senate concurred with the House amendments. Passed 46 to 1 in the Senate on April 21, 2011.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on May 5, 2011, to create a new category of food processing license is for cottage food operations that have gross sales of under $10,000 per year. The license fee for this new category is set at $30 per year, as compared to a minimum of $55 per year under current law. License fees are paid to the Department of Agriculture.