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House approves bill to strengthen protections for ‘Colorado‑grown’ labeling; honey amendment fails
Summary
House Bill 10‑31, designed to prevent mislabeling of produce as Colorado‑grown and to strengthen enforcement of the Colorado Proud mark, passed after floor discussion; an amendment to add honey failed amid questions whether honey is classified as an agricultural product for state tax and statutory purposes.
House Bill 10‑31 passed the Colorado House on Feb. 25, 2026, after sponsors described the measure as a consumer‑protection and market‑integrity bill to prevent mislabeling of non‑Colorado produce as Colorado‑grown.
Sponsor Representative Soper said the bill gives the state authority to enforce the Colorado Proud trademark and to ensure consumers receive accurate information about origin. Members raised practical questions about farms that straddle state lines and about labeling at point of sale. Representative Zukla asked whether the bill would cause issues for producers with acreage in more than one state; Soper replied the statute takes effect at retail (farmers market or grocery) and requires truthfulness in labeling.
Representative Luck offered amendment L001 to add honey to the list of protected products; sponsors and others debated whether honey should be treated as an agricultural product, noting property‑tax classification and other gray areas. Representative Soper said beekeeping and honey present a "sticky situation" and noted state tax administrators had advised honey is not always classified as agricultural for property tax. The honey amendment failed by floor vote; the bill passed.
