Any news?!

Our state's website is unclear on this, so I looked up other sites.
http://www.lwvct.org/elibrary/html/cgabill-law.html
http://www.house.gov/lucas/how-bill-becomes-law.shtml

In both, look for committee actions. One says that no action means the bill fails. The other says that no action (tabling the bill) means it stops action on the bill because they find it unnecessary or unwise.

If that's true, it's interesting, considering it passed the senate with a huge majority....

ETA: Snooped around the state site more, looking at other bills - found some that had no action on a different date and then had no action again today. Perhaps they get a second chance?

Felicia did you go? Did anyone go that can give more insight.

Sorry everyone for the delay...been busy working on cake!

It is NOT DEAD!!!! They ran out of time today as SB5748 was the last on the list, this means they will take action on it another day.....Don't worry everyone we are still very much in the game! I was concerned about this too but I called Rockefellers office and they confirmed....we have plenty of time for them to take action....It appears they may push it out until 3/23...

Make sure you are calling and e-mailing the House Reps that sit on the Ag Committee, they have the power right now...I have yes's from Bill Hinkle, Ed Orcutt and Hans Dunshee. We need to make sure the other 10 House Reps will vote yes.....PLEASE call and or e-mail them to ensure they are aware of how important this is too ALL OF US!

Thanks everyone!

Wonderful, thanks for clearing that up! The site can be a little confusing!

http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/3c3985ca26b04dae99014042a4ccbeec/UT--Young-Bakers/

Thought you all might like this article...I think our House Reps might like to read it too!! hint..hint..

That's awesome. See, the law is there to get you a start, if you get bigger you can move up to commercial stuff!

That's awesome. See, the law is there to get you a start, if you get bigger you can move up to commercial stuff!

That's awesome. See, the law is there to get you a start, if you get bigger you can move up to commercial stuff!

Great story! It also has the added benefit of showing that home schooled kids can be normal people too. Every time we tell someone that we are hoping to home school our child, they say stuff like "Nooooo! They'll be weird and anti-social." Drives me nuts! Those kids are learning way more than any school could teach them, plus they get to earn money while doing it. I do hope that we can get this bill passed sooner than later, I'm all set to start, just need the permission, lol

That's awesome. See, the law is there to get you a start, if you get bigger you can move up to commercial stuff!

I emailed my local reps today in response to this law ! from what it looks like it only got 2 nays and all the rest yays . Hoping to get a response email and really and praying that this passes !

They have re-scheduled the House Ag Committee session....it is on for Tuesday March 22nd @ 10am...

Thats great. Lets hope they make time for it

Anybody know how it went this morning?? Hoping for the best!

The website says executive action was taken, which means that they did get to it, though I have no idea what that executive action was.

Okay everyone...here is the latest!

The bill passed the Ag Committee with all "yes" votes, however it is with an ammendment. The bill now reads a home inspection is required each year (the health dept with determine fees). The gross sales was raised to $12,000 and the ruling dept will now be the Washington State Health Dept vs the previous Agricultrual Dept.

This should be documented on the site by this evening...The problem now is the bill has to finish in the House and then go back to the Senate because it was ammended! This could pose a problem for us if it gets sidelined......I will keep you all updated as soon as I know more!

Any idea what the home inspections will entail? Are they just checking for cleanliness and proper storage or will they be looking for you to have commercial stuff like the mop sink, etc...? :Fingers Crossed:

Based on other cottage laws, I imagine it's for cleanliness, storage space, etc. It appears they have til April 12th to vote yes at the final reading in the House, then the Senate would have until April 24th to approve that change. Hopefully that's enough time.

I wonder if the fact that an inspection would be required is going to be a downfall because my understanding is the HDs around here are way too busy already.... one may assume that this move would cost the state more money by needing more inspectors? Hopefully not, just wondering out loud. Too bad they couldn't just pass it as it was.

I was wondering the same thing. The Health Dept. has a lot of requirements. Besides the mop sink, a 3 compartment sink, special floor tile, wall covering and a commercial refrigerator among lots of other things. Plus, they don't allow children or pets and I haven't seen anything mentioned in the bill that addresses any of these things.

Wait, also, I was reading the proposed substitute bills under the "agenda" section for the committee. I saw the pre-inspection part, but I also saw them change the labeling wording to "Made in a home kitchen not inspected by the Department of Agriculture" or whatever. Why would you have to label that you are un-inspected if they are, in fact, doing inspections? Or maybe those documents aren't the final ones?

The health dept inspection would be for cleanliness/hygiene only. They will not be inspecting sinks/countertops/equipment. There are guidlines in the bill regarding no children or any other person for that matter in the kitchen at the time of operation. This bill does not exclude animals in the home as of now.

The inspection is mostly to ensure you don't live in a pigsty, that you are following safe food handeling per the "food handeling card" requirements and that you don't have unsafe practices that could cross-contimante the food.

Larkin....You are looking at previous documents. The new ammendments have not been officially posted yet.

Ok, yeah, the ones I saw were the proposed amendments for today's meeting.

Well, one good thing about this then is that you no longer have to label your stuff as not being inspected, which sure sells better to the public!

Wonder if it will all still work for me since i rent and im in an apartment.. good thing is im the manager as well so i can do whatever i want to the kitchen lol I really hope this all goes through renting kitchens can get really pricey..

Larkin....The label will still require "processed in a home kitchen not fully inspected by the heath dept" .....The wording is a bit different, I don't recall word for word...

Dejasnow....Yes, you can have a Cottage Food Kitchen in an apartment.

Felicia where do I go to read the entire bill? Several things you refer to in your posts I have not been able to find, so I must not be reading the right one. Thanks for your help.

Cakeladie.....The info is not readily available yet..however with a little digging you can find it...

Go to "Legislative Committees"
Ag & Nat Recources
Committee Meeting Documents
Hearing 3/22 @ 10am
Bill 5748 Amnd/Sub # 02-5748 H2310.1

This is the proposed ammendment...It should be up on the regular site soon, I though they would post it by tonight but they have yet to do so!

Thanks for all the updates.

Felicia thank you, I found it.