According to a proposal by Democrats at the Colorado state Capitol, up to a $20,000 fine will hang over the heads of every retailer who sells either liquid or gas fuels if they don’t have global warming warning stickers on their pumps and products if House Bill 25-1277 is signed into law.

The bill, Increasing Transparency Impact of Fuel Products, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder and Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, says retail outlets selling petroleum-based fuel products must put stickers on pumps, store displays and other retail items or face fines.

“Evidently the purpose of the bill is to shame buyers for purchasing a product necessary for them to use in many cases to transport their children to school, travel to work, or go to the grocery store,” said Greg Fulton, president of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association in a post on LinkedIn. “Many lower- and middle-income families cannot afford an EV but why shame them for purchasing what constitutes a necessity in their life today?”

The legislative declaration says, in part, that, “Providing consumers with information about the impact of fossil fuel consumption directly at the point of purchase may encourage consumers to reduce their consumption and to use alternative products when appropriate…”

In addition to gasoline and diesel fuel the bill’s language appears to include fuels like propane and butane, both of which are used in camping stoves and heaters that can be purchased at large retail stores. They are fuel products derived from liquid hydrocarbons at natural gas and petroleum refineries.

Fulton also questioned whether items like fuel additives and engine oil that begin their life in a petroleum refinery would have to be labeled as well, meaning shelf labeling at auto parts stores might be required.

The bill is very specific about font size and coloring of the lettering and says the stickers must be kept in “excellent condition” and replaced as necessary.

Fulton pointed out that a retail operator might not notice that a sticker or shelf label had been ripped off or defaced and asked if overlooking a single label on a single pump would subject the owner to fines should someone report them.

“Failing to notify consumers about the impact of the consumption of certain fuel products poses a risk to public health” is classified in the bill as a deceptive trade practice in violation of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.

The bill sponsors did not respond to The Denver Gazette prior to publication.