As a newly elected representative working to be the voice for Colorado’s hardworking families, I hear daily from constituents struggling to make ends meet. Let me tell you about one such story. Just last week, I spoke with a mother in my district who broke down in tears, telling me about her trip to the grocery store. She’s juggling two jobs to provide for her children, but even with her best efforts, she’s finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. “Eggs, of all things,” she said, “I can barely afford eggs anymore.”

Her frustration is one I have heard echoed time and again. A carton of eggs, once a staple in every family’s refrigerator, has become a luxury item for many. The reason? Colorado’s new cage-free egg mandate. Though the intentions behind the law may be noble, the reality is backyard chickens raised in free-range systems are more vulnerable to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as avian flu 1. If infected, these chickens can transmit the virus to other free-range chickens, perpetuating its spread and directly contributing to increased egg prices. The cost of compliance with these laws, passed with the intent of improving chicken welfare, has been directly passed on to consumers. This burden is felt most acutely by low-income families, for whom rising egg prices mean making heartbreaking decisions — such as choosing between buying eggs or other essentials for their children. Is this what affordability looks like?

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But the struggles at the grocery store do not end there. We are all familiar with the fee — or, as it is directly labeled on receipts, a tax — on grocery bags. It is not about the cost of the bag itself; it is about the principle of being nickel-and-dimed every time we try to feed our families. These fees may seem small on their own, but for families already stretched thin, they add up quickly. And they are not optional. Every trip to the store comes with these extra charges, making it even harder to stay within budget.

This mother’s story is not unique. It reflects the experiences of countless Coloradans feeling the pinch from policies that have made life in our state increasingly unaffordable. Whether it’s eggs, grocery bags, or other fees disguised as “mandates,” the efect is the same. These hidden taxes are driving up everyone’s cost of living.

That is why I am taking action. I am proud to sponsor legislation to remove these barriers to affordability. One of my bills I am spearheading along with state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer seeks to repeal the cage-free egg mandate, giving families the ability to buy affordable eggs again without sacrificing choice. Another bill I am honored to sponsor with Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, as well as state Sen. Byron Pelton, would eliminate the grocery bag fee, putting an end to this unnecessary and regressive charge on everyday shopping. These are common-sense solutions that will provide immediate relief to hardworking families across our state.

Colorado’s families deserve better. They deserve a government that listens to their struggles and works to ease their burdens, not add to them. Affordability should not be a buzzword or a talking point — it should be a reality. The mother I spoke with and so many others like her are counting on us to act.

It is time to rein in these hidden “taxes” and restore accountability to how we govern. By repealing these burdensome fees and mandates, we can take meaningful steps to lower costs and ensure Colorado remains a place where families can not only survive but thrive. That is the Colorado I want to see, and I will keep fighting to make it a reality.

State Rep. Ryan Gonzalez, a first-generation college graduate and proud son of Mexican immigrants, represents House District 50 with a commitment to restoring opportunity, values and effective leadership to the community he has called home since middle school.