If things go as they usually do on these things, you can soon ride with pride with the Pueblo Chile.

House Bill 1012 would create a special license plate to honor the pepper that’s the pride of Pueblo. The bill passed its first hurdle Thursday, when the House Transportation and Energy Committee gave it an 11-1 approval. Republican Rep. Jon Becker of Fort Morgan was the only holdout.

“We want to make sure that all of Colorado knows that Pueblo Chile is our chile,” state Rep. Daneya Esgar of Pueblo, the bill’s sponsor said in a statement. “Pueblo Chile is Colorado’s chile, and eventually will be the leading brand of chile across the United States.”

The specialty plate evolved from a conversation between Esgar and former Pueblo County Commissioner Buffie McFadyen, who served in the state House from 2003 to 2011.

It was just a couple of weeks ago when state Rep. Clarice Navarro of Pueblo used her clout on the host committee of Donald Trump’s Latino Inaugural Ball to ensure that Pueblo Chile was served to the attendees.

Legislative analysts forecast the state would sell 93 license plates next budget year and 185 each fiscal year after that. Besides routine costs, those who want Pueblo Chile on their plates would pay a one-time $50 fee, half for the plate itself and half to pay for roads and bridges. It’s expected to bring in $5,201 next year and $10,345 each year after, if the forecast holds.

The bill goes next to the appropriations committee, then to the full House. If it passes there – let’s be real, it should – it will go to the Senate to start over.

The bill was supported in committee Thursday by the Pueblo Chile Growers’ Association, the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce and Pueblo County Government.

Pueblo Chile is undergoing a branding campaign paid for with local, state and federal grants to promote local products and agritourism. In 2015, the Colorado State Fair held its first Pueblo Chile Day.