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Colorado Tamale Act expands cottage food sales
ColoradoBiz Staff //February 24, 2026//
DENVER — Gov. Jared Polis joined Majority Leader Monica Duran and Rep. Ryan Gonzales to highlight bipartisan legislation known as the Tamale Act.
In Brief:
- HB26-1033 would expand Colorado’s Cottage Foods Act to include some refrigerated foods.
- Measure would allow home cooks to sell items such as tamales, burritos and tortas.
- Supporters say the bill aligns Colorado with other Western states.
- Sellers would be required to complete food safety training and face possible inspections.
House Bill 26-1033 would expand the Colorado Cottage Foods Act to allow home producers to sell certain refrigerated foods such as tamales, burritos and tortas. Supporters said the measure would align Colorado with Western states, including Arizona and Wyoming, that permit sales of some home-cooked foods.
“In Colorado, we celebrate the foods that are part of our culture and the kitchen entrepreneurs behind them,” Polis said. “This bill expands access to homemade foods while supporting small kitchens and empowering Colorado’s cooking entrepreneurs.”
Backers of the bill said current rules prevent many home-based cooks from selling perishable foods. The proposal would allow those sales while maintaining food safety requirements.
“Unnecessary regulations make it harder for home cooks to sell their products,” said Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. She said the bill would open opportunities for Coloradans to start businesses and earn a living.
Twelve states currently allow home producers to sell certain perishable foods that are prohibited in Colorado.
Under the proposal, sellers would be required to complete a food safety course covering basic food handling and compliance requirements. Producers also could be subject to inspection and sampling by state or county officials
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