HB 2158 Kansas House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Permitting beekeepers who meet certain requirements to sell packaged honey and honeycombs without holding a food establishment or food processing plant license under the Kansas food, drug and cosmetic act.

HB 2158 exempts small-scale Kansas beekeepers from needing a food processing license to sell packaged honey and honeycombs, directly affecting local apiarists who meet specific criteria. To qualify, beekeepers must package products on their own property, label them with origin, net weight, and floral source (if applicable), keep honey unaltered (no pasteurization), source hives from Kansas, limit annual sales to $50,000, and maintain detailed sales records. The bill amends Kansas law to create this exemption under the food, drug, and cosmetic act, removing a regulatory barrier for small operations. It does not apply to pasteurized honey or honeycombs with additives, and requires compliance with state/federal labeling rules.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Signed Apr 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources As Amended by House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development · 7 edits
MODERATE
The House Committee amended the bill to simplify the exemption process for small beekeepers by removing the requirement to register with the Department of Agriculture. The bill now allows beekeepers meeting specific criteria to sell honey and honeycombs without a food license, eliminating the previous registration step and reducing labeling requirements.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from a registration-based exemption to a direct licensing exemption, broadening the ease of access for qualifying beekeepers.
REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for beekeepers to register with the Department of Agriculture at no cost to qualify for the exemption.

Simplified labeling requirements by removing the mandatory disclaimer stating the product is not subject to routine inspection.

Added specific labeling requirements for the beekeeper's name, address, zip code, and the net weight of the contents.

Removed the requirement that the beekeeper must follow minimum sanitary standards adopted by the department for packaging.

Removed the requirement for beekeepers to maintain a record of sales and make it available to the Department of Agriculture.

ELIGIBILITY

Adjusted the sales threshold language from '$50,000; and $25,000' to simply '$50,000', clarifying the maximum annual gross sales limit.

ENFORCEMENT

Revised the K.S.A. 65-689 section to clarify the licensing process, including inspection procedures, denial protocols with hearings, and license display requirements.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
28
Key actions
20
Committee
14
Apr 9, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on Thursday, April 9, 2026
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 110, Nay 11, Absent 4
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 40, Nay 0
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report now available
upper
Mar 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senator Francisco is appointed to replace Senator Ware on the Conference Committee.
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Rep. Sean Tarwater, Rep. Jill Ward and Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton appointed as second conferees
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report agree to disagree adopted; Sen. Virgil Peck, Sen. Larry Alley and Sen. Mary Ware appointed as second conferees
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report now available
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Virgil Peck, Sen. Larry Alley and Sen. Mary Ware appointed as conferees
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Sean Tarwater, Rep. Adam Turk and Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 40, Nay 0
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced
Received and Introduced
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 85, Nay 34, Absent 6
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Passed over and retain a place on the calendar
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Rebecca Schmoe
Rebecca Schmoe
RRepublican
KS
59