When Jenetta, local owner, operator, and baker of Jenetta’s Simple Treats moved to the Minot area as her husband got stationed at Minot Air Force Base, she was excited to continue her business in a new location. Jenetta’s Simple Treats was opened in July of 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada as a way of helping her with postpartum depression and anxiety, and has since grown to be a cottage bakery registered with her as she moved from Nevada to Florida, and now North Dakota.
However, as Jenetta found herself in the business landscape of North Dakota, she found a roadblock that she hadn’t come across before: being unable to ship her products to other states. The North Dakota Century Code, subsection 3 of section 23-09.5-02, cottage food laws didn’t allow for her products to be sold across state lines, or to be sold by telephone or online, which hindered Jenetta’s opportunities to serve existing customers.
Jenetta was introduced to Minot Area Chamber EDC President | CEO Brekka Kramer at Business After Hours where she shared her story and the challenges she faced with state cottage food laws. Brekka was in Bismarck the next day, and with the deadline for Senators to introduce bills two days out, the North Dakota Military Commission moved quickly to help a military spouse. MACEDC worked closely with legislators to understand and provide a solution to the problem, that ultimately resulted in Senator van Oosting introducing SENATE BILL NO. 2386 - A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact subsection 3 of section 23-09.5-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to cottage food transactions.
Senators van Oosting, Gerhardt, and Roers, along with Representatives Motschenbacher, Holle, and Hauck were the bill sponsors. The bill was in front of Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs and passed the Senate with 44 yeas and 2 nays. After crossover the House Agriculture Committee heard the bill and added an emergency clause. The bill passed the House with 90 yeas and 1 nay. Senate concurred, and the bill ultimately made it to Governor Kelly Armstrong’s desk.
After months of testifying and standing up for small business opportunities, Jenetta will now be able to expand her business through online, telephone, and mail sales. By championing this bill, we were incredibly excited to support not only small business, but future opportunities for military personnel and their families. The governor’s signature was appropriately celebrated with a cheers of Jenetta’s cupcakes - her favorite treats to bake - as it was officially signed on March 25.