Please support this bill HB402. Buy local and small producers need it.

Please vote NO on HB1169! This is an unnecessary waste of taxpayer money for an unneeded extra layer of bureaucracy. This is a money-wsting power grab and taxpayers DO NOT WANT IT. Please vote YES on HB402 for cottage food laws! It is SO helpful for those of us with special dietary and health needs to be able to directly buy food that keeps us well! And we've been hoping for this law for so long.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Dear Chairman Willet and Members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee, Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of H.B. 402 which would reform the cottage food law in Virginia to allow online and through the mail sales, delivery, online payments, and limited wholesale options. My name is Megan Bowers and I am a cottage food producer. I own and operate an in-home bakery in Woodstock, Virginia. I specialize in custom decorated sugar cookies, cupcakes and wedding cakes. I began my business 9 years ago this coming March after becoming a stay-at-home mom with our second daughter. Having a cottage food business has allowed me to own my own small business doing what I’m passionate about, create meaningful relationships and partnerships in the community, and most of all, be present in my young daughters’ lives - who are 9 and 14. These updates to the cottage food law are essential to the continued growth and expansion of my business and others just like me; allowing me to better serve the needs and expectations of my current and future customers. I don’t have the funds or the space to create a larger commercial kitchen in my home or for expensive rent for a commercial kitchen. I have had numerous cafes and businesses reach out about selling my sugar cookies in their businesses and am asked almost daily about shipping my products to customers not local to me. However, with the way the current cottage law is written, I unfortunately cannot. I’m losing sales and am not able to provide the additional needed services to my current and potential customers, which includes partnering with other small businesses. This drastically reduces the chances of being able to expand my business and offerings. These unnecessary hurdles only hinder our types of small businesses and create more expenses in the end. As a baker, the costs of my ingredients and supplies are consistently rising, as are taxes, which eats at my bottom line. The revisions in this bill would allow me to grow my customer base, meet the demands of potential new customers, and increase my offerings. I understand the need for further restrictions if you’re a catering business or something that needs more regulation, but someone who pretty much only offers decorated sugar cookies - it’s a major hindrance. Like other small businesses, cottage food producers pay taxes and contribute to our communities. We deserve access to the same tools and opportunities to grow and succeed. In conclusion, I strongly urge you to support H.B. 402 and Virginia cottage food producers, like me. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Please vote in favor of HB 402. It is an important step toward economic fairness and modernization. Small cottage food producers should not be limited by outdated restrictions that prevent them from accepting phone or online orders—tools that are standard for nearly every other type of business. This bill allows home-based entrepreneurs to compete on a more level playing field, expand their customer base, and operate more efficiently without increasing food safety risk. By removing unnecessary barriers, HB 402 empowers Virginians to turn skills into sustainable income and strengthens local economies, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Please pass HB 402 Cottage food laws; sale of certain food over phone and internet. Virginia's remaining small farmers and food producers are so important to a thriving population. All the comments already submitted in support are on point. Many of us want to support our farmers and food producers and want to see new ways to do it allowed by law.

I am writing to support HB402, which would expand the cottage food sales markets in Virginia. For those who want access to foods produced locally, it would be great to have options other than the limits of in person sales only. Easing up restrictions to the current cottage food laws would benefit the home producers wanting to expand their customer base as well as the consumers who want more flexibility in accessing these products. Allowing on line sales also will open the doors to new folks who would love to sell their baked goods, jams, pickles etc. but are currently limited due to the requirement that the sale must happen in person. Having a thriving local food economy is vital to the health of communities and it's truly a wonderful thing to buy from people you know. It's good for the seller, the consumer and the environment as well... really, there is no downside. I also support the removal of the sales cap on acidified foods and the streamlining of the permitting process.

hB402 I stand behind and hope this bill is passed. As a farmer who loves to can jams and jellies, This bill will make sure I can continue to do so without restrictions.

Please support HB402. It will allow small cottage foods producers to grow reach a larger consumer base, without the need to upgrade to a commercial kitchen, which is exceedingly expensive and lots of red tape for permitting. This is also a way to make it less restrictive for anyone wanting to get started with home produced uninspected foods which will support independence and community food resilience and keep revenue cycling within the local economy.

Please support HB 402. The only way small farmers can survive is with the direct connection of commerce between local farmers and local consumers. If there is fear of deregulation, have consumers sign an agreement (or how about a handshake?) with the local farmer that we are not afraid to buy and consume their food products. MAHA Mary Ann McDevitt - Rockbridge County - Glasgow, VA

Please support HB 402. The only way small farmers can survive is with the direct connection of commerce between local farmers and local consumers. If there is fear of deregulation, have consumers sign an agreement (or how about a handshake?) with the local farmer that we are not afraid to buy and consume their food products. MAHA Mary Ann McDevitt - Rockbridge County - Glasgow, VA

As a food safety professional, I have science-based opinions regarding the proposed language in this bill to modify the current Virginia Food and Drink Law.

Please support the passage of HB402, Cottage Food Laws. HB 402 would have a dual effect when it passes. This bill removes many limitations of previous legislation and will allow Virginians to freely engage in the sale and production of foods deemed safe for exemption (cottage foods). The other effect would be to lessen a lot of the hoops needed to jump through to get a permit based on a kitchen inspection for other foods, and streamlines the process. This bill will jumpstart economic growth, especially among small businesses, and will build food security and resiliency within our commonwealth's food system.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to share how HB 402 will transform cottage food businesses like mine in Virginia. As it stands, we’re often limited to in-person sales, making it tough to expand beyond local markets. HB 402 opens up online sales, meaning I can reach customers all across Virginia and beyond. That flexibility—allowing online orders, payments, and even mail delivery—means I’ll no longer be restricted to weekend markets or word-of-mouth. I can build a real online presence, grow my customer base, and stabilize income year-round. On a more person note, I am a cancer survivor who has trouble being in hot or super cold environments. Only being able to sell at outdoor markets on the East Coast is basically a death sentence to my business. Additionally, limited wholesale options mean I could partner with local cafes or small retailers. That adds stability, boosts my visibility, and allows me to scale up just enough without losing the personal touch. In short, HB 402 gives my business room to thrive, modernize, and contribute even more to the local economy. Please consider making the changes necessary to help Cottage Bakers reach their full potential. Thank you for your time.

I support the passage of HB402. We enjoy Loudoun County’s wonderful farmers.and all of the variety of products that come from them and their kitchens! Maureen and Bruce Newton

Please vote in favor of this bill. It will allow for increased local economies and allow for much needed food choice for those who have food sensitivities.

Thank you Committee Members for your consideration. Im writing in today to ask for your support of HB 402. I am currently completing a kitchen separate from my home for the purpose of canning foods and future food preparation for a Farm Stand. The kitchen did not allow room for commercial equipment. I purchased new appliances specifically for this kitchen. I would very much appreciate your approval of these changes to the Cottage Food Laws here in the Commonwealth. Thank you.

This is a bill ALL VIRGINIANS can support! I have a small homestead with livestock and have sold sourdough bread and homemade soap at farmer's markets. I have also been a supporter of direct farm sales from farmers in my area for over two decades. Now more than ever- after COVID revealed the weakness and susceptibility of the supply chain- this bill will free VIRGINIANS to produce more foods locally. VIRGINIANS quickly looked to local farmer's markets, farms and small artisan producers for food when they saw how quickly shelves could empty and stay empty. This hardship was temporary but shined a light on the perspective that we needed to support food producers right downtown and around the corner. This is a renewal and a FOOD MOVEMENT that brings dollars into our towns and smiles on farmers' faces who work so hard yet see so little profits. Farmer's markets are gaining in popularity every year. It is nice to see legislators thinking about and then acting on ways to encourage those who produce clean nourishing food for our families right here at home. Thank you Delegate Callsen and Delegate Webert for sponsoring this bill and I'm hopeful others will overwhelmingly use this opportunity to show VIRGINIA voters they are listening and caring about the things that are important to them.

I urge you to SUPPORT HB402 because it would make selling directly to neighbors easier and lead to economic growth in my small town, supporting home-based enterprises, strengthening families by making full time childcare and home education more feasible.

Please pass this bill! There should be no regulation on the goods I buy directly from my farmer!

I support HB402 not as a small business owner, rather as a consumer who like so many conscientious citizens in the Commonwealth, recognizes that food is indeed medicine. Thomas Jefferson knew it and fortunately, now the people are quickly following suit. We have a unique opportunity to eschew the infighting and lobbying at the national level and choose to support the health and wealth of our land, our farmers, and products that create REAL LIVELIHOOD for one and all. Cottage industries, when given the chance, thrive in ways that allow for all of us to thrive. And I've seen firsthand the ludicrous lengths that we must all go to, to actually produce and purchase the goods and services that they offer. Please help us to become a shining role model for the rest of the country in actively denouncing unnecessary controls and promoting choice and real health for our citizens. Thank you so kindly ....

As a small farming operation we support HB 402 to relax restrictions on cottage food preparation and sales - this is an important step in reclaiming our food sovereignty that will liberate neighbors to sell to neighbors and even beyond. We applaud these efforts and ask that you vote for this bill

Please support this bill. There is only positive impacts from a bill like this passing. Its a no brainer to allow people to sell and people to buy freely in a free society.

HB402 modernizes Virginia’s cottage food laws by removing outdated restrictions that limit how home-based food businesses operate. It reflects today’s marketplace by allowing common practices such as online and phone orders, while still maintaining transparency and consumer safety. Please support HB402.

I support this bill! Please give Virginians more access to fresh, local food. We need a restoration of health and nutrition in our state. Thank you!

My husband and I own a small farm in Bath County, Va. Part of viability to sustain the farm is through value-added products that fall under the current cottage food laws. I make and sell jams, pickles, mustards, hot sauces that currently I can only sell face to face at markets and other venues that run less than 14 days around the state. We sell face to face to people who are visiting out of the area quite a bit and it's sad to tell them when they want more that I cannot ship nor sell online because of current laws/regulations. I've had store owners ask to sell in their stores but I have to decline because I am not currently permitted to do so. The burdensome cost of being able to sell retail starts at getting a food managers license at $250 and traveling 2 hrs to do in person training. Next, I have to get a certification in acidified foods which is at minimum $400 (which I have done). THEN I must secure a commercial kitchen to use to produce my currently permitted cottage foods that is an hour away from my farm and is $125 a day AND coordinate having someone from VDACS come and check off that I am using it for $40. Once that is done, samples of every, single, item that I intend to sell wholesale, or retail must be shipped to VaTech via priority mail ($20 each) and pay another $100 plus for testing. This puts my cost at close to, if not MORE than a $1000 for ONE ITEM for wholesale retail. This is insurmountable cost for a jam or hot sauce that is already allowed to be sold to someone face to face. If I am currently allowed to put these into our food system but face to face via very limited venues (markets/venues) why not allow these to also be sold in retail stores (with the caveats that HB402 provide)? If it is safe enough to sell at a farmers market then it should be safe enough to be sold retail, wholesaled, mailed and paid for/shipped via internet (within the state of course!) This bill would be life changing for my family. My husband has had to get an off the farm job in order to keep the farm going at this point leaving me to handle 95% of the farm and value-added product that we sell. This bill would give to us, an ability to build a base in order to meet retail/out of state sales as a small business which in turn could lead to my farm creating real, JOBS for others in my local area which struggles to provide jobs now. Supporting this bill would allow single mothers to earn extra income and perhaps even help those who receive welfare to get off of government benefits. Create small businesses which would also increase the tax base/tax revenues and might help small towns and small farms become viable again. Thank you for your support.

Thank you for your time. I own The Twisted Loaf Bakery, a sourdough bakery. I am a weekly vendor at the Fredericksburg Farmers Market. I also do pickups at my home for customers, but those are very few due to the inability to accept online payments. I cannot bake without full payment, therefore I am limited on expanding the pickup customer base. Online payments will allow that to happen. Also, expanding wholesale abilities would allow me to serve other small businesses that have inquired about my ability to make products for them to either use or sell. This would be a tremendous benefit. Allowing cottage bakers the ability to put a PO box on the label would provide a level of security to our homes and families. The number of customers coming to our homes to pickup the orders are a very small percentage of the customer base. Removing the physical address from the label that goes out into the public just make sense, especially in the current social environment that exists. These updates just make sense in a world that is evolving to make things easier for customers, so please allow us to meet our customers where they are. I truly appreciate your time and attention to this cause. Dr. Connie R Hedgepeth-Smith

I am a PT Cottage Baker in Chesterfield County specializing in sourdough breads and products. I have found the inability to provide internet sales for potential orders extra burdensome for myself and my customers. Many businesses provide online sales options and without that option they tend to want to find a baker who can help them with that need. At the present time I only accept orders via messages and email. Then accept payment when the customer picks up their order. I have lost income through this current method dictated by our current cottage laws because I have had multiple no shows where they do not respond back to messages. I don’t foresee that I can expand past PT hours with current revenue lost. My hope is to someday cut back my FT hours at work to further my baking business but current guidelines are hindering this long term growth for me. Thank you for considering altering VA Cottage Laws to allow for online sales.

I am a member of Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association and ask you to support this bill. You can see from the large number of comments how the bill would improve people's lives. I used to sell products using the current "Kitchen Bill" exemptions, to help pay for my daughter's school fees. We would have benefited from more sales of more products in more places, if the cottage food laws in Virginia had been freed up more, back then. And we are still trying to make it happen. As a result of the 2015 Wyoming Food Freedom bill and amendments since then, products that require "time and temperature control" are allowed to be made in an uninspected home kitchen, including those products containing meat (inspected meat only). There have been NO OUTBREAKS OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS from these foods. Please let us have that freedom so we can increase trade with our neighbors in Virginia also. Thank you.

The purpose of my letter is for support of HB 402. Attached is my letter. Thank you for your consideration!

The purpose of my letter is for support of HB 402. Attached is my letter. Thank you for your consideration!

Testimony in Support of H.B. 402House Committee on Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources – Agriculture Subcommittee [Your Name]January 28, 2026 Dear Chairman Willet and members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee, Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of H.B. 402 which would reform the cottage food law in Virginia to allow online and through the mail sales, delivery, online payments, and limited wholesale options. My name is Jessica Ray, I am a Full time Surgery Coordinator at The Childrens Hospital of Richmond and I am a cottage food producer. I started out baking cakes for my grandchildren's birthdays and it has branched out from there. It is very heartwarming to have my loves tell me what random things they want on a cake and see their smile and excitement when it becomes real life. I would also bring baked items into work for my coworkers and doctors. As I posted pictures and other friends and family came to the Birthday parties and tasted them I ended up getting a lot of requests to sell. For someone that suffers from PTSD and Depression this has also been an excellent way to keep me in a happier place. As I am finishing a cake i sometimes laugh at how wonderful my vision turns out because it brings me such joy. I started my cottage baking business last year and it has been okay so far but I know things could get better if this bill passes. I have even signed up for some special places like icing smiles that chooses local bakers to make cakes for free for hospitalized children and their family members. Right now I mainly sell cakes, cupcakes, and zucchini bread. I have dabbled in cookies as well and am working on some new recipes to try. Reforming the cottage food law to allow online and through the mail sales, delivery, online payments, and limited wholesale options would benefit my business by cutting down on having to do so many extra things to comply with cottage law. It would cut down on losing profit by having to keep up with so many things to comply. Everything could be done on one single site instead of having to have so many areas that patrons have to visit or contact you on to speak with you about ordering. It would cut down on the number of times an order is not maid for nor picked up after being made because we would be able to get payment in advance. It would cut down on the number of scammers that get us because they know there is nothing we can do to secure things. This would also let some of us who are trying to build our reputation become more and possibly open our own brick and mortar store someday. I could go on but I think you can see by all of us out here we need this desperately. In conclusion, I strongly urge you to support H.B. 402 and Virginia cottage food producers, like me. Thank you for your time, enjoy the rest of your day.

This bill does 2 things, it removes all the restrictions that serve to inhibit and restrict the business and sales of foods the legislature has deemed safe to sell under exemption. And the second thing it does is makes the process of getting inspected to sell the items that are not under exemption a lot easier. I’d say this is a win-win Bill for the actual citizens of Virginia and I hope it doesn’t get sidelined by the big corporate lobbies fear mongering of safety issues. It’s nothing short of corruption to watch our representatives being beholden to big corporate fear mongering of hypothetical situations, all the while not standing to account for all the actual mass sickness and massive recalls they actually do perpetrate on the citizenry year in a year out. It would be nice this year to see our legislators working on our behalf, and this is a great bill for them to prove they are not corrupted by lobbyist money.

January 28, 2026 Dear Chairman Willet and members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee, Thank you for the opportunity to hear my thoughts in support of H.B. 402 which would reform the cottage food law in Virginia to allow online and through the mail sales, delivery, online payments, and limited wholesale options. My name is Jennifer and I am a cottage food producer. My husband and I own and operate a very small homestead in South Central VA where we grow a variety of fruits and vegetables and raise chickens for eggs and meat. We make jams and jellies, pickles and relishes, and a variety of baked goods that we offer for sale from time to time from our home and at some limited events in the Commonwealth. Living in such a rural area, it can be quite difficult to turn this into a profitable venture as not many folks are willing to travel the distance to pick up our goods in person. Having the ability to ship these products would open up so many opportunities for us to make more money, enabling us to get out of our vast debt from my previous cancer treatments. You see, I am a cancer survivor. And though I am so very thankful to be alive and well, after all the years of medical treatment we have found ourselves in deep debt. Each month we struggle, and though we are far better off financially than many others, it is still a struggle that I would not wish on anyone. Having the ability to expand our cottage food business means FINANCIAL STABILITY. We make too much money to qualify for state or government assitance, but not enough to pay all our bills. Even with us both working full time jobs, there is just more "month", than there is "money". This bill has the power to change that by giving us more outlets to offer our products. In addition, we would be able to offer our products with other local business such as local Mercantile Shops, and retail establishments all over the Commonwealth. This is a win/win for all parties involved. Generating more TAXABLE revenue for the state should also be mentioned as a MAJOR PLUS for this bill. In conclusion, I strongly urge you to support H.B. 402 and Virginia cottage food producers, like me. Thank you for your time.

Thank you for your time today. I started a small part-time cottage baker business to help support my family and its needs in the summer. Americans are wanting more options that are not processed foods but homemade. Allowing online sales, allowing limited wholesale is a win win situation for the state as well as the cottage baker, as this would increase the money the state is receiving. It is a win- win situation for the baker that allows them to have more sales. If the sale goes awry, this on the seller and not the state as this would allow the individual to plan more wisely in their business transactions. I would encourage the state to also allow farmstands in various communities in the summer to encourage agriculture and growth as well as promote local charm and affordability for all. ASullivan

I started a business last year with my son and daughter. Our primary product is microgreens. We are based in a small town area, so our customer base is limited. The proposed changes for online sales would allow us to expand our customer base. I have also been approached by a few local restaurants expressing interest in our microgreens. By allowing wholesale options, we could then sell to these restaurants. This would provide us with a more stable revenue, especially at this time of year when most farmers markets are not operating. Our goal, as with any business, is to grow and become profitable. The proposed changes to the cottage law would give us the opportunity to grow our business, as this is only our second year, without the burden of extra expenses associated with online and wholesale sales.

I urge you to support HB 402, which will allow Virginians to more easily provide food for each other during these uncertain economic times. As I’m sure you’re aware, people across the Commonwealth face issues with the cost of putting food on the table. This has occurred for many reasons, not the least of which are tariffs. Much of our food supply comes from overseas and is therefore made more expensive by tariffs, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Our current cottage food laws can be expanded through this bill to allow for more local commerce which does not incur the additional cost of tariffs. Home kitchen commerce in everyday staples like meat and milk is not currently permitted, leaving families no choice but to purchase these items from the grocery store which often sources these items from far away, including overseas, incurring additional costs. Passing this bill will allow local producers to transact directly with consumers, greatly lowering costs and increasing options for Virginians whose budgets are already being stretched. The legislature can be part of the solution here, but to do so it must allow everyday Virginians to solve this problem, neighbor to neighbor, using what we already have or can make right here.

Testimony in Support of H.B. 402 House Committee on Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources – Agriculture Subcommittee Linda Dupie January 28, 2026 Dear Chairman Willet and members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee, Small businesses like mine are the backbone of Virginia’s local economy. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of H.B. 402, which would modernize our cottage food law and help businesses like mine grow and serve our communities more effectively. My name is Linda Dupie, and I am the owner of Fredericksburg Bakes, a cottage food business I started in 2025 after discovering my passion for baking during the pandemic. I specialize in cookies, scones, and cinnamon rolls, selling them at local vendor events and through pre-orders. However, the current law restricts my ability to accept online orders and payments, making it difficult for customers to buy from me. Many potential customers leave my website because the ordering process is complicated and inconvenient. Last month alone, I lost several orders due to these limitations. Reforming the law would allow me to serve more customers, including those who cannot attend events in person. It would also enable me to participate in limited wholesale opportunities, helping me build revenue and expand my business. Like other small businesses, cottage food producers pay taxes and contribute to our communities. We deserve access to the same tools and opportunities to grow and succeed. Expanding sales options would not only benefit my business but also strengthen our local economy and provide greater convenience for customers. With improved flexibility, I could reach homebound individuals, support local events, and contribute more to community initiatives. In conclusion, I strongly urge you to support H.B. 402 and empower Virginia’s cottage food producers to thrive. Supporting this bill means supporting hundreds of small businesses and the communities they serve. Thank you for your time and consideration. Linda Dupie

I have owned and operated my treat business, KP’s Kake Pops & Treats, for over a decade. I’m very proud to be a small business owner in Virginia and my story helped progress the cottage food laws changes in 2024. Overall my experience with the legislative process has been positive so I’m happy to support even more progress now. By amending the current laws to allow online and through-the-mail-sales, delivery, online payments, and limited wholesale options, it opens the door for cottage bakers to grow their business. Especially in the last few years, I’ve had to turn down wholesale opportunities. These were not huge companies, but rather other small businesses with brick and mortar shops that wanted to sell my cake pops. This would have benefited both of our businesses but I had to turn these opportunities down to stay compliant with the current laws. Progress has been made but more can be done.

Written Testimony in Support of HB402 My name is Lynne Driscoll and I live in Fairfax County, Virginia. I strongly support House Bill 402 (HB402). HB402 modernizes Virginia’s cottage food laws by removing outdated restrictions that limit how home-based food businesses operate. It reflects today’s marketplace by allowing common practices such as online and phone orders, while still maintaining transparency and consumer safety. This bill expands economic opportunity for small entrepreneurs, many of whom rely on home-based businesses to supplement income or build toward future growth. By reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, HB402 helps protect small producers and encourages local commerce. I urge you to support HB402 and help strengthen small businesses and local communities across Virginia. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Lynne Driscoll Fairfax County, Virginia

HB 1396 I think we are past the time in which dogs are needed to hunt. It's dangerous for land owners and promotes animal cruelty. I have plenty of horror stories i can share as well as a potential animal neglect tip i can share with you regarding a possible hunting organization.