Event organizers said the tough standards and required upgrades have been costly for churches, fire departments and other community groups. But now, there is a measure in the pipeline called the Pie Bill that could give them some leeway.

Mike Butler, Southmont Volunteer Fire Company president said the requirements have been costly.

"In our kitchen area, we're on a grass field, so we had to build a hard floor which we had to make out of wood. There was $1,000," Butler said.

In addition to the floor, the department also had to put in new stainless steel tables and a new sink. In all, the department spent well more than $2,000 to make changes just this year.

"To the general public, that may not sound like an awful lot, but to the Fire Department, when you're scrimping to make ends meet, that's an awful lot of money. You just don't recoup that in one festival," Butler said.

The Pie Bill was introduced after a western Pennsylvania church was cited for selling its homemade specialties last year then other local churches were nervous about state inspectors targeting them. The bill would relax some of those standards and make those homemade specialties legal. Butler said the bill would also help organizations and said inspectors should focus on bigger problems.

The bill recently passed unanimously in the state Senate. It will next go to Gov. Ed Rendell for his signature then it will be official.