Colorado Lawmakers Push Bill to Expand Legal Sales of Homemade Foods
Colorado lawmakers are pushing a new bipartisan bill that could make it easier to legally buy and sell homemade foods like tamales, burritos, and tortas. House Bill 26-1033 — nicknamed “The Tamale Act” — would expand the state’s Cottage Foods Act by removing current restrictions that ban the sale of homemade foods requiring refrigeration or containing meat.
Right now in Colorado, home cooks can’t legally sell many hot or perishable items. If passed, the new law would allow those foods to be sold as long as the producer completes a food safety course covering proper handling and storage. Products could still be inspected by local or state health agencies if complaints arise or rules are violated.
Governor Jared Polis says the bill would help turn Colorado into a “food freedom” state, aligning it with others like Arizona and Wyoming that already allow similar sales. Supporters argue the measure would open the door for more kitchen entrepreneurs — especially within the Latino community — to earn income legally and grow small businesses. Lawmakers backing the bill say it removes unnecessary barriers while still prioritizing food safety.
Currently, 12 states allow certain homemade perishable foods to be sold, and backers say it’s time for Colorado to join them.
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