A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning changing confinement standards for egg-laying
Page 1, Line 102hens whose eggs are sold.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill repeals standards created in House Bill 20-1343, enacted in 2020, regarding confinement standards for egg-laying hens whose eggs are sold.
Page 1, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 1SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly
Page 2, Line 2finds that:
Page 2, Line 3(a) House Bill 20-1343 regarding egg-laying hen confinement
Page 2, Line 4standards was enacted in statute as part 2 of article 21 of title 35,
Page 2, Line 5Colorado Revised Statutes;
Page 2, Line 6(b) Starting in January 2023, the statute required an egg facility to
Page 2, Line 7have 144 square inches of space per hen;
Page 2, Line 8(c) Starting in January 2025, the statute changes that requirement
Page 2, Line 9to mandate that any eggs sold or distributed in Colorado come from a
Page 2, Line 10fully cage-free facility;
Page 2, Line 11(d) The Colorado Egg Producers Association estimates that the
Page 2, Line 12cost of producing cage-free eggs is roughly 16%-18% higher than the cost
Page 2, Line 13of producing eggs in a caged environment due in part to the amount of
Page 2, Line 14labor, the cost of reconstructing hen houses, and the potential spread of
Page 2, Line 15illnesses in a larger environment;
Page 2, Line 16(e) The bureau of labor statistics shows egg prices increased
Page 2, Line 1739.6% between September 2023 and September 2024, which was the
Page 2, Line 18largest increase of any food tracked;
Page 2, Line 19(f) Since January 2022, the average national cost of a dozen eggs
Page 2, Line 20rose 75% from $1.92 to $3.37 in October 2024, with a peak of $4.82 in
Page 2, Line 21January 2023. As of December 2024, a dozen large white eggs at a
Page 2, Line 22grocery store costs $5.49.
Page 2, Line 23(g) The Colorado Egg Producers Association has always
Page 2, Line 24prioritized responsible and humane practices.
Page 2, Line 25(2) Therefore the general assembly declares that:
Page 2, Line 26(a) Part 2 of article 21 of title 35, Colorado Revised Statutes, is
Page 2, Line 27out of step with the economic realities facing Coloradans today, as
Page 3, Line 1Colorado's cage-free egg law is driving up prices at a time when families
Page 3, Line 2can least afford it;
Page 3, Line 3(b) With inflation pushing grocery bills to record high amounts,
Page 3, Line 4forcing producers to shift to expensive cage-free systems only adds to the
Page 3, Line 5financial strain on consumers;
Page 3, Line 6(c) Eggs are a basic staple for households across the state with
Page 3, Line 7approximately 6 grams of protein per egg;
Page 3, Line 8(d) Increased prices disproportionately impact low-income
Page 3, Line 9families, who are already struggling to keep up with rising costs; and
Page 3, Line 10(e) At a time when inflation is driving up the cost of housing, fuel,
Page 3, Line 11and everyday essentials, many people in this state cannot afford to have
Page 3, Line 12policies that make it more difficult for them to put food on the table.
Page 3, Line 13(3) The general assembly further declares that:
Page 3, Line 14(a) Changing the cage-free mandate will provide immediate relief
Page 3, Line 15to consumers and help stabilize egg prices for Coloradans who rely on
Page 3, Line 16eggs as a source of affordable protein; and
Page 3, Line 17(b) Colorado families should not have to choose between paying
Page 3, Line 18bills and buying groceries; therefore, it is necessary to focus on keeping
Page 3, Line 19Colorado eggs affordable and ensuring that government regulations do
Page 3, Line 20not add unnecessary burdens during an already challenging economic
Page 3, Line 21period.
Page 3, Line 22SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal part 2 of
Page 3, Line 23article 21 of title 35.
Page 3, Line 24SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 3, Line 25takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 3, Line 26ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 3, Line 27that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 4, Line 1of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 4, Line 2act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 4, Line 3effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 4, Line 4November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
Page 4, Line 5official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.