Committee declines to advance 'Tamale Act' after health officials warn of food-safety risks

Representative Lourdes Gonzalez introduced House Bill 11‑90, which she called the "Tamale Act," proposing to amend the state's Cottage Food Act to allow the sale of refrigerated homemade foods outside of licensed establishments.

The bill sponsor said the change aims to help small entrepreneurs, often immigrant families and low‑income households, use home kitchens as a legal stepping stone to brick‑and‑mortar restaurants or food trucks. "I call the Tamale act tamale amendment," Representative Gonzalez said when she opened the presentation, describing the measure as a way to "lower the barriers to entry" for small food businesses.

Supporters at the hearing said the expansion would create economic opportunity. Angel Merlos of the LIBRE Initiative Colorado said the bill would help Hispanic and immigrant entrepreneurs "come out of the shadows" and register as legitimate businesses. Alejandro Flores Munoz described his family's trajectory from selling home‑made desserts door‑to‑door to running a catering business, urging the…