Local

Oklahoma home bakeries won't need a license beginning November 1

It took years of lobbying to get the legislature on board, but home bakers finally found the right recipe to get legislators' attention, and it involved cupcakes.

Lots of cupcakes.

Susan Bohannon, a home baker who has wanted to go into business for some time, tells KRMG the final push began a few years ago when her State Representative, Eric Proctor (D-Tulsa) came to her door and asked if she had any issues she wanted him to address.

"At the moment I couldn't think of anything, but later I thought 'hey! he could probably help us work on getting the bill passed.'"

She says members of the T-Town Cake Club, including some people who actually live in Oklahoma City, got behind the effort.

Finally, they rallied at the State Capitol armed with their secret weapon.

"We baked cupcakes," Bohannon laughs. "Lots, and lots, and lots of cupcakes."

She said putting a face on their organization and learning how a bill moves through the legislature helped them move the process along.

"And a cupcake never hurts," she added.

The Home Bakery Act of 2013, signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin in April, allows a home baker to sell up to $20,000 in goods annually, with some restrictions, without having to have a license from the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

The baked goods cannot contain meat products or fresh fruit.

The product must have a label, printed in no smaller than 10-point type, which reads "“Made in a home food establishment that is not licensed by the State Department of Health.”

The label must also include the name and address of the home food establishment, and the name of the prepared food.

The new law goes into effect November 1.

Bohannon says she plans to go into business that day, probably as "T-Town Sweets."

She says she'll have a Facebook page up right away, and a website in the near future.

Listen

news

weather

traffic

mobile apps

Everything you love about krmg.com and more! Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app.

amazon alexa

Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices!