HB 25-1203
Fiscal Note
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
HB 25-1203: MISBRANDING CULTIVATED MEAT PRODUCTS AS MEAT
Prime Sponsors:
Rep. Winter T.; McCormick
Sen. Pelton R.; Mullica
Published for: House Ag., Water & Natural Res.
Drafting number: LLS 25-0830
Fiscal Analyst:
Alexa Kelly, 303-866-3469
alexa.kelly@coleg.gov
Version: Initial Fiscal Note
Date: February 21, 2025
Fiscal note status: This fiscal note reflects the introduced bill.
Summary Information
Overview. The bill expands the definition of misbranded food to include any cell-cultivated meat not
labeled as such or labeled as meat.
Types of impacts. The bill is projected to affect the following areas on an ongoing basis:
Minimal State Revenue
Minimal State Workload
Local Government
Appropriations. No appropriation is required.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts
Type of Impact
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
State Revenue $0 $0
State Expenditures $0 $0
Transferred Funds $0 $0
Change in TABOR Refunds $0 $0
Change in State FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
Page 2
February 21, 2025 HB 25-1203
Summary of Legislation
The bill prohibits food that is cell-cultivated, or contains cell-cultivated meat, from being
branded as a meat product and requires it to be clearly labeled as cell-cultivated meat.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) must inspect an inventory
of food offered for sale at a processing plant and may issue a stop order if the department has
reasonable cause to believe that the plant is in violation of the labeling requirements of the bill.
If a violation is found, CDPHE may issue an embargo order, requiring the plant to dispose of any
cell-cultivated meat. CDPHE, the Attorney General, or the local district attorney may petition the
district court to enforce a stop or embargo order.
Comparable Crime Analysis
Legislative Council Staff is required to include certain information in the fiscal note for any bill
that creates a new crime, changes the classification of an existing crime, or creates a new factual
basis for an existing crime. The following section outlines crimes that are comparable to the
offense in this bill and discusses assumptions on future rates of criminal convictions resulting
from the bill.
Prior Conviction Data and Assumptions
This bill a new factual basis for the existing offense of misbranding food by failing to properly
label food containing cell-cultivated meat. From FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24, zero offenders have
been sentenced and convicted for this offense; therefore, the fiscal note assumes that there will
continue to be minimal or no additional criminal case filings or convictions for this offense
under the bill. Visit leg.colorado.gov/fiscalnotes for more information about criminal justice
costs in fiscal notes.
State Revenue and Expenditures
The overall impact on state revenue and expenditures across departments is expected to be
minimal, as discussed below.
Judicial Department
Based on the assumptions above, this analysis assumes that there will be a minimal impact on
state revenue and expenditures. Under the bill, criminal fines and court fees, which are subject to
TABOR, may increase by a minimal amount. Similarly, any increase in workload and costs for the
Judicial Department, including the trial courts, are assumed to be minimal and no change in
appropriations is required. Page 3
February 21, 2025 HB 25-1203
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
The CDPHE Manufactured Food Program will see a minimal increase in workload. The program
currently inspects food manufacturing and storage operations, which includes routine food
labeling review.
Local Government
Similar to the state, it is expected that any workload or cost increases for district attorneys to
prosecute additional offenses under the bill will be minimal. District attorney offices and county
jails are funded by counties.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect 90 days following adjournment of the General Assembly sine die, assuming
no referendum petition is filed. The bill applies to food labeled or packaged after the effective
date.
State and Local Government Contacts
District Attorneys
Information Technology
Judicial Law
Public Health and Environment
Regulatory Agencies
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit the General Assembly website.