HB 1343 Summary

• Requires cage-free housing for egg-laying hens in Colorado starting January 1, 2025, with a transition period through December 31, 2024 allowing minimum 1 square foot of usable floor space per hen in any enclosure.

• Establishes minimum usable floor space requirements: 1 square foot per hen in vertical-access systems (multi-tiered aviaries, partially slatted) or 1.5 square feet per hen in single-level all-litter floor systems after January 1, 2025.

• Prohibits sale of shell eggs and egg products in Colorado that were produced in non-compliant housing, applying to both in-state producers and out-of-state suppliers.

• Exempts small producers with 3,000 or fewer hens and small retailers selling fewer than 25 cases per week (100 cases collectively) from the confinement standards.

• Authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture to enforce standards through inspections, certification requirements expiring annually, and civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation.