SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2158
As Amended by House Committee on
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
Brief*
HB 2158, as amended, would allow beekeepers who
meet certain requirements to sell packaged honey and
honeycomb to be exempt from obtaining a food establishment
or food processing plant license. The bill also provides an
exemption for beekeepers who meet certain requirements
from the Kansas Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
Definitions
The bill would define the following terms:
●“Honey” as the nectar and saccharine exudations
of plants that are gathered, modified, and stored in
the comb by honeybees;
●“Honeycomb” means a structure of cells composed
of beeswax in which bees store honey; and
●“Unaltered” means left raw and in the original state
after harvesting and, if applicable, straining.
“Unaltered” does not include honey or honeycomb
that has been pasteurized.
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
https://klrd.gov/ Exemptions
The bill would provide an exemption from the
requirement to hold a food establishment or food processing
plant license if a beekeeper:
●Packages honey and honeycomb on the property
of the beekeeper harvesting and selling such
products;
●Labels packaged honey and honeycomb with:
○A “honey” or “honeycomb” designation. The
floral source may be a part of the name if the
product contains a significant amount of
pollen from that flower;
○The name, address, and zip code of the
beekeeper packaging the honey or
honeycomb; and
○the net weight of the contents.
●Keeps honey and honeycomb unaltered and free
from additional additives;
●Harvests honey or honeycomb within the State of
Kansas;
●Maintains annual gross sales from honey and
honeycomb that does not exceed $50,000; and
●Maintains a record of sales of such products and
makes the record available to the Department of
Agriculture when requested. The record should
include:
○The amount of honey or honeycomb sold by
container size;
○Where such honey or honeycomb was sold;
and
○The date of such sales.
2- 2158 Any beekeeper who meets these requirements, excluding the
annual gross sales requirement, would not be required to
acquire or maintain a commercial kitchen facility to obtain a
license.
Background
The bill was introduced by Representative Schmoe at
the request of the Kansas Honey Producers Association and
the Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers’ Association.
House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic
Development
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by a representative of the Kansas Justice
Institute, a representative from the Kansas Honey Producers
Association, and a private citizen. Proponents generally
stated honey and honeycomb are safe products due to their
natural properties and the bill could remove restrictions to
business growth.
Opponent testimony was provided by a representative
from New Hope Farm and Apiary. The opponent stated the
bill would weaken food safety regulations and disrupt fair
competition.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by four
private citizens.
No other testimony was provided.
The House Committee amended the bill to remove the
requirement for beekeepers to acquire or maintain a
commercial kitchen if they meet all other requirements of the
bill excluding the annual gross sales requirements.
3- 2158 Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Department of
Agriculture estimates enactment of the bill would reduce
revenue to the Food Safety and Lodging Program’s fee fund
by $5,550 in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. Each license fee
costs $150, and the Department estimates that up to 37 food
processing licenses would be exempted.
Honey; honeycomb; food processing plant licensing
4- 2158