Majority Leader Duran and Representative Gonzales, co-prime sponsors, introduced House Bill 26-1033. The bill expands the Colorado Cottage Foods Act to include the production and sale of refrigerated food, and makes changes to the act’s applicability, requirements, and penalty authorization.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Elizabeth Alvarez Osorio, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ellen Hamlett, representing Institute for Justice, testified in support of the bill. Madison DeBruyne, representing Metro Caring, testified in support of the bill. Lindsay Ellis, representing Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, was available to answer committee questions. Mr. Angel Merlos, representing The LIBRE Initiative, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Carmen Marisela Bravo, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Marci Cochran, representing Pueblo Farmers Market, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Allie Morgan, representing Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials (CALPHO), testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Ferah Shahid, representing Adams County Health Department, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Mike Solter, representing CALPHO, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Sam Thompson, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Dylan Garrison, representing Arapahoe County Public Health, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. James Rada, representing Jefferson County Public Health, testified to amend the bill. Shawna Johnson, representing Boulder County Public Health, testified in opposition to the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Tom Gonzales, representing Larimer County Department of Health and Environment and CALPHO, testified to amend the bill and responded to questions from the committee.

Heather Wilder, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Lucor Jordan, representing Metro Caring, testified in support of the bill. Brizai Gomez, representing Metro Caring, testified in support of the bill. Corey Blair, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Kelly Duffy, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Elsa, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Bennet Rutledge, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Additional written testimony can be found in Attachment A.

The bill sponsors and committee members gave closing comments.