State Assistance for the Elderly - Study on Calculation of Income
HB0989 would prohibit the Maryland Department of Health from capping the revenue that a holder of an on-farm home processing license may earn from food processed under that license. The bill defines an on-farm home processing license as a license issued to an individual who owns a farm and processes food in a home or domestic kitchen located on that farm.
The measure also directs the Department of Health to update its regulations by October 1, 2025, to repeal the existing $40,000 sales limit for food processed under an on-farm home processing license. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is aimed at removing a regulatory barrier for farm-based food producers who sell home-processed products.
HB0989 would amend the Health-General Article by adding a new section that bars the Department of Health from imposing a revenue cap on on-farm home processing license holders. It would also require a conforming regulatory change to COMAR 10.15.04.15, eliminating the current $40,000 sales limit. The practical effect is to expand the business potential of farm operators who process food in home kitchens on their farms, while leaving the licensing framework itself in place.
The available bill text and context suggest the bill is generally favorable to agricultural and small food-business interests, with no recorded committee vote or transcript showing opposition or debate. The bill’s sponsors and the absence of recorded negative action indicate support for removing the sales cap, likely framed as a way to help farm entrepreneurs and local food producers grow their operations. No formal sentiment from hearings is available in the provided materials.
The main point of contention is the existing $40,000 revenue limit, which the bill would eliminate. Supporters are likely to view the cap as an unnecessary restriction on farm-based food businesses, while any opponents may be concerned about consumer safety oversight, regulatory consistency, or whether larger-scale sales should remain subject to different licensing requirements. Because no committee transcript or vote record is provided, specific arguments from either side are not documented in the supplied materials.