Colorado’s Deregulate Meat Sales Direct to Consumers bill is almost to the finish line. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg (CO-R), Reps. Rod Pelton (R-65) and Donald Valdez (D-62) and dozens of other lawmakers, would make it easier for ranchers to sell meat directly to consumers.
A seller would not have to be licensed, regulated, or inspected by a public health agency if the animal was raised by the seller and the seller sold shares of the meat. The seller would only have to give a disclaimer that they are not licensed or subject to state regulation or inspection; the meat is not intended for resale; and the sale does not involve interstate commerce.
The bill passed the House and Senate, but as of March 26, needed some final edits by a Senate conference committee. If passed, it will then head to Gov. Jared Polis’ (D) desk, who has already voiced his support for the bill. “I’ve been fighting for similar changes at the federal level for a decade, but things move slow in Washington and I’m so glad that Colorado is moving faster to increase our food freedom and support small ranchers,” he said. The bill is modeled on a similar law that passed last year in Wyoming.
