NH House Testimony

HB371

House · 2025 sessionRepublicanSigned into law

Occasional food establishment definition change

AI

Expands the definition of occasional food service establishment.

relative to the definition of occasional food service establishment.

AgricultureBusiness and Industry

Status

Signed into law · May 30, 2025
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

70 submissions
Support 69Oppose 1Neutral 0
Melodie MartinezSupportGrafton, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Consumers value convenience and choice. This change would give Consumers the ability to enjoy their purchase whenever and wherever they choose, be it on location, their home, or during a commute. Under the current law " intended for immediate, on premises consumption " is just that, "intention". There is no guarantee or enforcement that they will consume on "immediately or on premises ". This change will not grant any more days allowed to sell such items, only grant freedom and convenience to the Consumers. Thank you.

Ann L'ItalienSupportGilmanton Iron Works, NH, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

I support this bill as I would like to encourage flexibility for those who grow and prepare local produce and products.

Megan FerentinoSupportSouth Hampton, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Everyone should have to label a product the same, all ingredients listed and allergens. It is not that hard to spell out what's in a product, consumers should not be hidden anything or need a QR code to read ingredients. Every person making a food product should label the same weather they are commercial making thousands of the same thing a day or in home making only one a day

Virginia SapiroSupportGilmanton, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

I am both a market gardener and President of Gilmanton's Own, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization with a mission of supporting local agriculture and farmers. If the requirements for designation of "occasional food service" were made marginally more generous -- 4 days out of 28 instead of 4 days out of 3o -- it would mean that more small establishments could serve the public. This is very important for those of us offering value-added foods made from New Hampshire farm products. One day a week would not be undue competition with restaurants and other establishments that are primarily food-service businesses. It would complement what they offer. Thank you.

Lucie RemillardSupportBerlin, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Please support this bill. I am a retired City Councilor and encourage you to support this bill on behalf of the working citizens of Berlin. Thank you in advance for voting yes!

Susan HallSupportConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

I support this bill. Would help many small businesses.

Tara StolzSupportMilford, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Food freedom is an important one, especially in a state whose motto is "Live free or die." Unfortunately, NH has not been as free in this as I feel they should be. Protecting the public from known dangers is important. Protecting citizens from dangers that have been shown to be negligible in other states is restrictive and unnecessary. The Institute for Justice investigated the consequences of very liberal food freedom acts in seven different states and, in all of the states combined, there was only one instance where illness was suspected but not confirmed and the cases (two individuals) were mild. That's a decade of potentially hazardous food in multiple states being prepared with virtually no adverse consequences. I hope to see NH more toward more food freedom, and this bill is a good start.

Janet OliverSupportBARRINGTON, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Please make it easier for small businesses to survive and thrive.

Lucille LavoieSupportBerlin, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

I support this bill

Jodie ConsolesSupportBerlin, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

This will help local Mom and Pop in home bakers! Thank You!

Jaime GordonSupportBerlin, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

I fully support this bill! I am the ONLY Bakery in my town, and consistently have to refuse orders and requests because of the current laws surrounding temperature-controlled items. I'm a disabled mother trying to support my children, and losing potential sales on a weekly basis is very frustrating. In the past 30 days alone I've had to turn down 15 separate order requests, for cheesecake, cannolis, a cake with whipped cream frosting and other items. These orders would have generated over $400 in income for me, but instead I had to visit the food pantry for dinner supplies for the next 2 weeks. I'm ServSafr certified and a culinary school graduate, I would very much appreciate being able to further build my business and customer base by expanding my menu for a couple of days a month.

Karen PittSupportLondonderry, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

As a New Hampshire home based baker, I would be very grateful if this bill passed. I am a 72 year old semi-retired nurse who would love to expand my business and supplement my social security by baking and creating delicious products instead of pushing a med cart and spending 8 hours a day on my feet. I pride myself in following the current laws regarding home baking and would continue to do so if given this opportunity to expand my business. Thank you for considering the small businesses in this great state.

Lindsay BagshawSupportLoudon, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Sarah ScottSupportManchester, NHfor Americans for Prosperity New HampshireFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Marissa HansonSupportBarnstead, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Kelly BissonSupportNew Durham, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Sarah BorgesSupportRochester, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Brian GuySupportNorthwood, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Amy MatarozzoSupportCenter Barnstead, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

John ElsnauSupportDeerfield, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Lauren TedfordSupportMilford, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Cheryl SwettSupportNorthwood, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Carol McCluskeyOpposeGilmanton, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Claudia FerberSupportGilmanton, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Autumn BishopSupportBedford, NHfor MyselfFeb 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.