In the final bill he will sign, outgoing Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed the “tamale bill” sponsored by state Rep. Ryan Gonzales, R-Greeley.
“This law makes Colorado a food-free state, allowing home entrepreneurs who make delicious homemade foods like tamales, burritos and tortas that Coloradans love to sell responsibly to Coloradans,” Polis said.
Polis was famous for championing “food freedom” in Congress, but not as much as the governor until the Tamale Act.
Gonzalez submitted the bill to the Democratic-controlled Colorado General Assembly in January without a co-sponsor.
HB26-1033 – Expands the Colorado Cottage Food Act The media called it the ‘Tamale bill’ and listed Democratic majority leaders in the House and Senate as co-sponsors.
The “tamales bill” signed into law amends Colorado’s cottage food law to expand the types of foods covered to include refrigerated foods such as tamales, burritos, tortas, sandwiches and salads. It also includes the following requirements:
- Sellers must complete a food safety course that covers proper food handling, time and temperature control, and safe transportation practices.
Food must be maintained at an appropriate temperature and cannot be transported more than once or for more than two hours.
Other provisions include:
- Producers may be subject to inspection and sampling by state or county health officials to ensure compliance with safety standards.
- The original Cottage Foods Act included a $10,000 annual revenue limit and prohibited sales to retail stores or grocery stores, focusing on direct-to-consumer sales. This increased limit allows producers to net up to $150,000 per year under CCFA. And it requires annual adjustments for inflation.
Producers selling their products under the Tamale Act must register with the state and obtain a registration number before selling.
In general, opponents of the Food Freedom Act argue that home kitchens are not subject to the same inspections and public health regulations as businesses because of food safety concerns.
“Tamale Law” was the last of 436 bills Polis signed during the 2026 Colorado Legislature session. This resulted in a total of 3,713 bills being signed during his two terms as the state’s chief executive. Polis cannot seek re-election due to term limits.
