Authored by: Representative Hunter Smith     Referred to: House Committee on Public Health

The gist: HB 1424 seeks to prevent the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), local health departments and local units of government, and the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County from imposing any rules or regulations on small farm or homestead vendors that are not required by federal law.

The bill provides that the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), a local unit of government, the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, or a local health department may not impose any rules, regulations, certifications, or licensing requirements on a small farm or homestead vendor that are not required under federal law. The bill also permits homestead vendors and small farms to sell various meat products and food. This bill exempts public buildings used by small farms and homestead vendors from certain public building regulations.

HEC’s analysis: This bill seeks to continue Indiana’s deregulation of the “cottage food” industry. It defines anyone who prepares and sells food products from their own property and has gross sales of less than $1.5M per year as a “homestead vendor.” It defines a “small farm” as as land used for producing crops or livestock with less than $1.5M in gross sales per year of livestock or crop-related products. Around 90% of Indiana farms could meet the bill’s definition of a “small farm.”

Currently, home based vendors are exempt from regulations regarding sanitary requirements for food establishments under IC 16-42-5. This bill expands those exemptions to any entity included in the bill’s definition of a “homestead vendor” or “small farm.” It also exempts homestead vendors and small farms from the food handler regulations under IC 16-42-5.2 (e.g. “ServSafe” requirements) and from IDOH inspections in the instance of a complaint, or if IDOH believes a health hazard exists.  

Update 2/26/26: HB 1424 has passed both IGA chambers.

To access the full text of this bill, click here. To see the latest actions on this bill, click here.


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