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Bill Benefiting Food Trucks in Colorado Moves Forward

VICTORY IN COMMITTEE | Representative Manny Rutinel with María Zubia and María González from Adelante Community Development, and David Sevcec, food truck owner. (Photo/El Comercio de Colorado)

APPROVED 8-5 IN COMMITTEE

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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The proposed bill HB25-1295, which simplifies permits and paperwork for food truck owners in Colorado, passed its first major test. The Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee of the Colorado House of Representatives approved the bill with 8 votes in favor and 5 against. This is the third time a similar proposal has been presented, and for the first time, it is moving forward in the legislative process.

Representative Manny Rutinel, the main sponsor of the bill, presented the initiative and answered questions from his colleagues. The session featured testimony both in favor and against the bill. Representatives from Denver and Adams counties, along with the Colorado Municipal League, voiced their objections, while organizations like Adelante Community Development and the Colorado Restaurant Association supported the proposal.

Speaking with the Counties

Rutinel explained that the bill will now move to the full House of Representatives. “We’re going to work with all stakeholders to achieve the best possible version of this bill. Specifically, we want to speak directly with the counties and understand their concerns. The idea is to improve the bill and prevent problems along the way,” explained the legislator, who is convinced of the need for this legislation.

The initiative aims to eliminate the duplication of licenses and inspections that food truck owners face when operating in different cities and counties. “Today, food trucks must get separate permits in each place, facing different fire and health department regulations. That’s a major obstacle for small business owners,” explained Rutinel, who represents District 32 in Colorado.

Bill Benefiting Food Trucks in Colorado Moves Forward

IN THE HEARING | Members of the Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee question Representative Manny Rutinel, sponsor of HB25-1295.

Strong Support for the Bill

Adelante Community Development, an organization supporting Latino entrepreneurs, strongly backed the bill. Its executive director, María González, emphasized that this law would especially benefit immigrant small business owners who are driving the growth of the food truck sector in the state. “We’re not trying to eliminate local control, but rather put an end to the duplication of processes and paperwork that discourage entrepreneurs,” González stated.

She added, “We want the economic impact of these businesses in Colorado to be recognized.” Testimonies from entrepreneurs like David Sevcec and Máximo Valdez, both food truck owners, reinforced the importance of this bill. Both pointed out that the differing requirements of each county make it difficult to operate legally and hinder the sector’s growth.

“Competition is good, but unnecessary barriers only limit those who want to work and grow,” Máximo said. Meanwhile, opponents of the bill voiced concerns about potential impacts on established restaurants and the risk of losing control over public health and safety matters. In response, supporters assured that the bill does not lower sanitary or safety standards.

Bill Benefiting Food Trucks in Colorado Moves Forward

IN SUPPORT | María González, David Sevcec, and Máximo Valdez.

From Bill to Law

Rutinel and those who testified in favor stressed that the bill removes unnecessary red tape while respecting local authority in key areas such as location and zoning. The sponsor expressed optimism about the bill’s progress. “This is an opportunity to modernize the system, support our small businesses, and create more jobs. We’ll keep working to ensure that this time, the bill becomes law,” he concluded.