Polis visits Longmont farm Wednesday to sign cage-free egg legislation

Gov. Jared Polis, First Gentleman Marlon Reis and their two children visited Bluebird Sky Farmstead in Longmont on Wednesday for a bill-signing ceremony and a little birthday cake. 

Polis put his pen to House Bill 1343, which requires that eggs from Colorado-raised chickens will be cage-free by Dec. 31, 2024. The cake, or vegan and non-vegan cupcakes to be more precise, were for Reis, who was celebrating his birthday. 

It was the first time in Polis’ tenure as governor that he signed a bill in Longmont, though not his first visit to town.

Sponsored by Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, and Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, the bill expands on the floor space requirements for raising egg-laying fowl. It also restricts the sale of shell eggs or egg products that were not raised in compliance with the new mandates. It is estimated the legislation will improve the living conditions of approximately 6 million hens in Colorado. 

The state follows Michigan, Oregon, Washington, California, and Massachusetts in making the use of battery cages in the raising of chickens illegal.

In a brief address, Polis thanked all involved and addressed the motivation behind the legislation. 

“In recent years, consumers and the industry have increasingly shifted to cage-free production. As the consciousness around animal welfare increased, the links to food safety increased, the economic benefits are better understood, and of course the dangers to public health of producing in conventional ways,” he said. “This shift has led to hundreds of our biggest food companies … to already make the switch to supplying only ‘cage-free’ eggs. We want Colorado producers to be in the forefront of this growing market. As we are well aware, our food systems and public health are inexorably linked. This law means healthier animals, which means healthier products and tastier products for consumers.”

Humane Society of the United States President and CEO Kitty Block in a news release stated, “This is a massive victory for chickens. Caged egg-laying chickens are among the most abused animals on our planet. They live in less space than the dimensions of a single piece of paper for their entire life. The cages are so small that they cannot even extend their wings, causing severe stress, frustration and deprivation that no animal deserves. The Humane Society of the United States is grateful to Governor Polis for signing this bill into law.”

In addition to the governor and his family, the event was attended by representatives of the Humane Society, Colorado Egg Producers and the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.

Bluebird Sky Farmstead is owned and operated by Daniel Dunlap and his partner Annaliese Danckers. They raise chickens, ducks and pigs, with eggs for sale by the dozen.