HB29 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thomas JacksonRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Cottage food production operations, baked goods and roasted coffees, exempt from obtaining food service permit from health department, labeling of baked goods, other food items, food safety course required, Sec. 22-20-5.1 am'd.

Summary

HB29 expands cottage food rules to include roasted coffee and dry gluten-free baking mixes, allowing home sellers to operate without a health department permit if they meet income and direct-to-consumer sale requirements, with labeling and safety training rules.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill lets in-home producers of roasted coffee and dry gluten-free baking mixes operate under cottage food protections. Producers must have annual sales of $20,000 or less and sell only directly to consumers (no internet sales) and are not considered food service establishments requiring a permit. They must label all products with the operation’s name and address and state that the food is not inspected, and they must complete a department-approved food safety course. The health department can still stop sale or seize foods if a foodborne illness is suspected, and the department will issue labeling and training rules; the law becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects

• In-home cottage food operators who produce baked goods, jams/jellies, candies, dried herbs/herbs mixes, roasted coffee, and dry gluten-free baking mixes, and meet the income and direct-to-consumer criteria, who may operate without a food service permit.
• Consumers who buy these cottage foods directly from home producers, who will receive labeled products that include the operator’s name and address and a non-inspected statement, with internet sales still prohibited.

Key Provisions

• Extends cottage food protections to in-home producers of roasted coffee and dry gluten-free baking mixes.
• Defines cottage food production operation as home-based, with annual gross income of $20,000 or less from eligible foods, selling directly to consumers.
• Not a food service establishment; not required to obtain a food service permit from health departments.
• Requires labeling of baked goods, jams/jellies, candies, roasted coffees, dry gluten-free baking mixes, and dried herb/herb mixes, including name and address and a statement that the food is not inspected; requires completion of a department-approved food safety course.
• Prohibits selling cottage foods over the Internet.
• Allows the health department to stop sale, seize, or hold suspected foods tied to a foodborne illness; authorizes rulemaking to implement labeling and training requirements.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month following passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health