HB 4561 Summary

• Creates a new fee refund mechanism (Section 4118) allowing food establishments, shellfish dealers, water bottlers, and water dispensing machine owners to claim refunds for licensing fees paid if they experienced a 25% or more revenue reduction during any quarter due to an emergency order or state of disaster/emergency declaration.

• Modifies licensing fee language throughout the Food Law to clarify that fees "may be subject to a refund under section 4118" in sections 2125, 3119, 4111, 4113, 4115, and 6137.

• Updates statutory language by replacing "shall" with "must" in multiple sections for consistency with modern drafting standards (sections 2125, 4111, 4113, 4115, and 6137).

• Changes the effective date reference in Section 3119 from "upon submission" to "on submission" of food service establishment license applications.

• Applies fee refund eligibility only to fees retained by the state department; excludes any fees charged or retained by local health departments from the refund program.