Bill

SB 25-285

Updating Food Establishment Inspection Fees

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 16 co-sponsors

SB 25-285 updates and may differ fees for food-establishment inspections to reflect costs, funding food-safety programs and potentially tiered fees by type, size, or risk.

Governor Signed

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · SB 25-285

SB 25‑285 — Updating Food Establishment Inspection Fees

Status: Governor Signed (May 30, 2025)
Introduced: April 7, 2025

Summary — purpose and intent

SB 25‑285 is intended to update the fee structure used to fund state and/or local public‑health inspections of food establishments. The bill’s primary purpose is to adjust inspection fees to reflect current costs of regulatory activity, improve the funding stability for food safety programs, and (depending on specific language) allow for differentiated fees by type or size of establishment or by inspection frequency.

Note: The full enrolled bill text was not provided. This summary describes the bill’s purpose, legislative progress, likely key elements typically included in such measures, and the expected effects. Consult the official bill text on the Colorado General Assembly website for precise language, dollar amounts, and effective dates.

Key provisions (typical elements expected in this bill type)

Because the bill text is not available here, the provisions below describe the kinds of changes SB 25‑285 is titled to make. Confirm specifics in the enrolled bill.
- Revision of the fee schedule for food‑establishment inspections (amounts and/or fee categories updated).
- Creation or redefinition of fee tiers by: establishment type (restaurant, grocery, food processor, temporary event, mobile unit), size (seating capacity/square footage), or risk level.
- Authority for the state health department (or delegated local health agencies) to collect updated fees and deposit revenue to a designated cash fund for food safety/inspection programs.
- Provisions for fee adjustments over time (e.g., annual inflationary adjustments or rulemaking authority to update fees).
- Fiscal/administrative details: how revenue is used (inspector salaries, training, laboratory testing), reporting requirements, and possible exemptions or reduced fees for small businesses or nonprofit entities.
- Implementation and effective date language (to be confirmed in bill text).

Who is affected

Regulated entities: restaurants, bars, cafeterias, grocery stores, food trucks, caterers, temporary vendor operators, food processors, and other permitted food establishments.
Local public‑health agencies and the state health department (responsible for inspection and enforcement operations).
Consumers indirectly, through potential changes in food safety oversight and potential pass‑through of costs in prices.

Potential impacts

Fiscal: Increased fee revenue could stabilize and expand inspection capacity, training, and enforcement activities.
Business: Higher fees would raise operating costs for food establishments; impacts concentrated on small or marginal businesses unless exemptions or reduced tiers are provided.
Public health: If revenue is used to enhance inspections, the measure could improve food‑safety oversight and reduce foodborne illness risk.

Legislative and procedural timeline

Introduced in Senate (assigned to Finance): 2025‑04‑07
Passed Senate (3rd Reading): 2025‑04‑28
Passed House (3rd Reading): 2025‑05‑03
Sent to Governor: 2025‑05‑13
Governor Signed: 2025‑05‑30

Next steps / where to read the bill

For exact fee amounts, detailed definitions, exemptions, cash‑fund instructions, and the effective date — consult the enrolled bill text and the fiscal note on the Colorado General Assembly bill page for SB 25‑285.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.