Colorado’s Scrambled Egg Policy

January 5, 2024 update [this article was originally published on January 15, 2023 and updated on January 5th, 2025]: The price of eggs has increased from $2.99 a dozen to $8.99 a dozen since January of 2022. Why? Because of two contributing factors of overreach by PBIs (Politicians, Bureaucrats, and Interested Parties. There are those who attribute this increase in egg prices to the Bird Flu and certainly the reaction of PBIs to the Bird Flu is playing into the increased cost of eggs. PBIs’ policy to kill thousands of healthy chickens that may have been exposed to sick chickens makes no sense. Killing healthy birds with natural immunity weakens the health of all flocks and contributes to higher egg prices.

Additionally January 1, 2025, all mid-level egg producers must provide a cage-free environment for their egg-producing chickens. We are republishing this essay regarding HB20-1343 which was signed by Governor Jared Polis on July 1, 2020. HB20-1343 dictates the square footage that mid-level egg producers must provide for each chicken and that egg-laying hens must be “provided enrichments that allow them to exhibit natural behaviors, including at a minimum, scratch areas, perches, nest boxes, and dust bathing areas.” Killing healthy birds and these new regulations have increased the cost of breakfast for Coloradans by 200% which is affecting the food affordability and food security of children and adults across the state. Now that Coloradans are experiencing the cost of such bad public policy decisions, it is time to stop killing healthy chickens, repeal HB20-1343, and hold the legislators and governor who made HB20-1343 law accountable at the ballot box.

We love them fried, boiled, and scrambled. We start our days with them sunny-side up or over-easy. They’re deviled for summer picnics and in a salad for lunch. Eggs have been a staple on Coloradan’s breakfast tables since before we became a state. They are delicious, nutritious, and up until the Colorado legislature passed and “Mr. Libertarian” Governor Polis signed HB20-1343 “Concerning Confinement Standards for Egg-Laying Hens Whose Eggs Are Sold,” they were affordable.

Egg prices have increased significantly. A dozen eggs from my local dairy cost $2.99 on January 4^th, 2022. The price is now $6.99 per dozen which is a 133% increase in about a year. The price for a dozen eggs is up 40% from just mid-November. These price increases are affecting food choices and food security for everyday, hardworking Coloradans.

Government “Green” policies have increased the cost of fuel to power our cars, heat our homes and produce our food. As I continue extensive research on “Green” policies, I realize the real “Green” is the “Green” moving into the pockets of PBIs (Politicians, Bureaucrats, and Interested Parties) as their agenda raises the cost of living for Coloradans and all Americans.

Government rules and regulations have increased production costs for our food producers, which is seen in rising costs at the grocery store. These policies, rules, and regulations are threatening the food security of Americans whose goal is to move up the economic ladder, be self-sufficient, and not be dependent on their neighbors thru government programs.

Colorado HB20-1343 has individuals scratching their heads. The “Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens” legislation dictates that egg-laying hens are free to roam unrestricted in an indoor environment, except restricted by exterior walls or some interior fencing. Why is chicken’s indoor environment a legislative focus when we have real challenges in Colorado? KDVR-TV recently reported that Scholoroo ranks Denver as the worst place to raise a family.

While we witness the tragedy of the homelessness industrial complex (a lot of people are making a lot of “Green” on the pain and suffering of others), the Colorado legislature passed and this governor signed HB20-1343 “Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens” which dictates that egg-laying hens are provided enrichments that allow them to exhibit natural behaviors, including, at a minimum, scratch areas, perches, nest boxes and dust bathing areas. What is a dust bathing area and why is it in Colorado law?

Colorado HB-1343 “Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens” empowers PBIs (Politicians, Bureaucrats, and Interested Parties) to pick winners and losers. A facility that is defined to include live animal markets or official plants (big guys) … or business owners that collectively sell fewer than one hundred cases of thirty dozen shell eggs per week (small guys), are not subject to this legislation. BUT, if you are a mid-level producer and you violate HB20-1343  “Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens,” you may be hit with a civil penalty of up to $1,000.00 per violation and taken to court. Big business and big government like each other because they can collude to pass rules, regulations, and legislation to put their smaller competitors out of business. See Colorado HB-1343 “Confinement of Egg Laying Hens.” Not fair!

Colorado HB-1343 “Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens” reeks of cronyism. The “Egg” commissioner may use a government or private inspection or process verification provider to ensure compliance with the “Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens” legislation.

And while we have a U.S. Supreme Court Justice and college professor who cannot define what a woman is, HB20-1343 “Confinement Standards for Egg-Laying Hens” defines an “Egg-Laying Hen” as a FEMALE domesticated chicken, turkey, duck, goose, or guinea fowl kept for the purpose of commercial egg production. No trans egg laying here.

To fund the bureaucracy that is increasing the cost of your eggs, the “Egg” commission (in addition to all other powers and duties conferred upon the “Egg” commission by this article) can “fix, assess, and collect fees sufficient to recover the department’s direct and indirect costs incurred in carrying out and enforcing the provisions of ….” So mid-level egg producers must fund their regulators which increases the cost of your sunny side up at your breakfast table.

Bottom line is your nest is being de-feathered, feather by feather by rules, regulations, legislation, and initiatives. If you choose to purchase more expensive cage-free chicken eggs, you should have the freedom to do so. However if you are a single mom who is just trying to put food on the table for your kids or a senior citizen who is working to make ends meet when facing higher taxes, increasing costs to warm your home, and surprise pricing at the grocery store, we realize the compassionate answer is to repeal Colorado HB20-1343 so that individuals have the choice of affordable eggs.

HB20-1343 was passed by the Colorado legislature in 2020 and signed by the governor on July 1, 2020, however it did not take effect until January 1, 2023 which is conveniently after the 2020 election and 2022 election. If legislators pass and the governor signs legislation that so adversely affects people, then these politicians must at least have the character to answer to the voters in their next election instead of kicking the can down the road three years later.

There are solutions. First, either by legislation or the initiative process, Coloradans can repeal HB20-1343. Secondly, in the next election cycle, vote for individuals who value you and your family more than the square footage of egg-laying chickens from mid-level producers.

Denver ranked worst city to raise a family | FOX31 Denver (kdvr.com)

Nonprofit buys Denver hotel for $24M, plans reuse as shelter – Denver Business Journal (bizjournals.com)