House narrowly adopts bill requiring warning labels on fuel pumps; sponsors call it consumer information

The Colorado House passed House Bill 12 77 on third reading after several hours of debate on April 1. The bill would require fuel retailers to display a warning label at pumps stating that combustion of certain fuel products contributes to greenhouse-gas emissions and associated health impacts; enforcement is routed through the Colorado Consumer Protection Act with a 45‑day right-to-cure period for noncompliant sellers.

Representative Joseph, a sponsor, described the package as a familiar enforcement mechanism: "This is a great bill. The bill sought to drive systemic change by helping us meet our emission reduction goals and help us raise awareness and give notice to community members," Joseph said on the floor. Sponsors pointed to statutory precedents for labeling and enforcement, including prior state action on misleading compostability claims.

Opponents criticized the measure as symbolic, likely to mislead consumers about actual individual climate impacts, and potentially costly for small gas stations required to place multilingual labels. Representative Baron, among others, said the bill was unnecessary and risked misinforming the public about the magnitude of a single driver’s contribution to climate change.

Assistant Majority Leader Bacon and other supporters said the bill includes a cure period and is defensible under established consumer-protection law. The floor record shows sustained back-and-forth: concerns raised included whether the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) would be involved (Bacon said it would not) and whether the measure would interfere with small retailers' operating space and add costs.

On third reading the Clerk announced: with 33 yes, 30 no and 2 excused, House Bill 12 77 is adopted.