Bill Summary
HB26-1031 is a consumer protection bill focused on raw, unprocessed agricultural products sold for human consumption. It prohibits marketing a product as “grown in Colorado” unless it was actually grown in Colorado, and it restricts use of the “Colorado Proud” designation or logo unless authorized by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
- Applies to plants, fruits, vegetables, and fungi in a raw or unprocessed state.
- Covers products sold, marketed, advertised, or distributed in Colorado for human consumption.
- Includes products grown through farming or horticulture, including greenhouse or controlled environment agriculture.
- Bars use of the Colorado Proud designation or logo, or trademarked versions, unless authorized.
- Makes violations a deceptive trade practice under Colorado law.
- Does not create a private right of action. This is not a lawsuit free-for-all.
Position: Support
This is a basic, common-sense guardrail government should provide: an honest label and a fair marketplace. If someone wants to sell out-of-state produce, that is fine. They just should not sell it as ours.
Colorado farmers earn their reputation the hard way. Nobody should get to slap a friendly sticker on a box and charge Colorado prices for something that was not grown here.
Why I Am Taking This Position
Principle matters here: truth in labeling and fair competition. When consumers pay a premium for Colorado products, they deserve the real thing, and Colorado growers deserve a level playing field.
The bill also stays in its lane. It is narrowly focused on raw, unprocessed agricultural products and on unauthorized use of the Colorado Proud logo. It also makes clear there is no private right of action, which helps prevent turning routine commerce into a wave of lawsuits.
Bottom line: protect consumers, protect honest farmers, and keep the rules tight and enforceable. That is limited government doing a necessary job, not expanding into everybody’s business.
Call to Action – What You Should Do!
Contact your state representative and senator and ask them to vote YES on HB26-1031.
If you sell at a farm stand or farmers market, ask lawmakers to keep the focus on bad actors and clear standards, not extra paperwork for honest growers and vendors.
