HELP!!!!!!!! If you are a cake baker in Missouri, you need to know that House Bill #617 has been introduced and read twice at this point.  Please don't let this bill die - we need it!!!!!! It's our chance to be able to have home based bakeries and sell our cakes legally!!! Let's get the word out there!!! I've sent messages to my rep and the rep that introduced the bill and posted this as my FB status:
HELP!! There is a bill in the MO House right now that I would like for everyone to write their reps to support!!! It's House Bill #617 for a cottage food law! This would be an amazing thing for so many people in our state, not the least of which is me!!! Please write your rep and tell them you support this bill HB#617
- here's how to find your rep and his/her email:
http://www.house.mo.gov/legislatorlookup.aspx

My rep is going to hate me lol.  I've been all over him about standing firm against gun legislation and blocking the Obamacare exchanges etc.  His nephew is a sub of ours that we use on our rentals.  We know the Messenger family well.

I can't believe that I didn't know about this sooner.  I bake cakes and live in Jeff city, no less.  Other than contacting my reps is there anything else that needs to be done?

Thanks for this heads up! I've sent an email to my representative. Again, should we be doing anything else?

I'm just seeing this today. Do I still need to email? Will it even help?

Yes! There are actually 2 bills right now in the process - Not sure why there are two, but please write your reps! Ask them to support 617!

http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills131/billpdf/intro/HB0617I.PDF

House Bill 440 PASSED!!! It was introduced today - 4-3-2013 - to the Senate!  Please send emails and call your State Senator to support this.  You can go to http://www.senate.mo.gov/ and find your senator by filling in your zip code in the senator look up box about halfway down on the left side of the page.  Time to get our senators on board with this and get it passed by them - then we are done!

WHOO HOO!!!!! Thank you for the update!!!!

AJust emailed! Thanks for sharing! Does anyone have a good site to read up on the status of the industry as it stands now?

Does anyone know what progress this has made in the Senate?

This is from a facebook page dedicated to passing the MO cottage food law:

"I called my senator's office today, they said they expect the HB440 to be heard in commitee in the next couple weeks. I asked what should we be doing to help? She said to continue to call your senators, and even contact the senators on the comittee. If you need their number or do not know who yours is you can look it up at www.senate.mo.gov"

Facebook page dedicated to passing the MO cottage food law:

https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/groups/152208218265958/

Thanks Dani!

It was voted DO PASS in the committee today - now it goes to the floor for a general vote by all of the Senators.  Time to write your Senators to get this passed!!!

This is getting me so much more involved in our legislative process!  I do have an update:) HB440 was just put on the Senate informal calender this past Monday (5/13) to be read in the near future for the 3rd and final reading. If all goes well and it gets passed the only thing left is for the bill to be signed by both the House and Senate then to be sent to the Governor for his signature (approval). Just wanted to pass this info along since I've been trying to keep up online through their site.

Thank you Mamasmanna for the update and thank you Dani1081 for the continued info!

ASo does anyone know what happened?

AI'm trying to find an update on this post, as I just found it by accident. The links aren't taking me anywhere that I can find an update. Can anyone tell me what happened and what this bills changed?!?!?!?!?

AAny update?

it died and was not passed.  It would have given home bakers the legal ability to sell from their homes.  Right now Missouri leaves it up to individual counties and most counties prohibit home baking sales.

So what happens next? Was it just unimportant for a real vote?  No interest?

Bah.

I've been following this petition. It only needs 39 more signatures but truthfully I have no idea how much of an impact these things make.

https://www.change.org/petitions/missouri-state-legislators-pass-a-missouri-cottage-food-law-that-allows-bakers-to-sell-from-their-home

We only need 23 more at this point, for what it is worth.  Have a bunch more coming in. Wish I knew sooner.

just 5 more !

https://www.change.org/petitions/missouri-state-legislators-pass-a-missouri-cottage-food-law-that-allows-bakers-to-sell-from-their-home

Done! It said 2 more and It now says ZERO!

I signed it and sent it to a few friends.

AOther than reaching 1000 signers, does this mean anything?

Hello Missouri bakers. Can anyone tell me if HB 440 was ever signed into law? 

On Governors Desk. Should hear by July 15th -ish.  check out Missouri Cottage Law Face book group.  Lots of info. there about the status.

Thanks Pamalbake for the update. I looked on facebook and only saw a closed group page???? I sent a request to join the group. I have not been baking for the last two years. But I am thinking about starting back. I thought the bill was already effective and signed into law until I found out different yesterday.