State Legislation

This bill would be costly and burdensome for employers, particularly to small businesses, as they would be required to implement an additional employee payroll deduction. It would also impose significant administrative and operational costs for the state which would be required to administer an insurance program with little certitude of solvency in an economic downturn.

This bill encourages increased understanding and awareness of concurrent enrollment offerings and costs, discourages unnecessary duplication of classes and is mindful of students’ limited resources. The Chamber is supportive of concurrent enrollment as research shows that access to college-level classes while in high school helps prepare students for postsecondary success – this is a critical component of future workforce development.

The Chamber is working with more than 30 organizations to identify industry-wide strategies that address Colorado’s rising health care costs. While this bill highlights an existing challenge within our healthcare system, we are concerned that this proposal exceeds the state’s legal jurisdiction. There is uncertainty regarding the state’s ability to require federally regulated companies to submit data; additionally, there is considerable inconsistency in the types of pharmaceutical organizations this regulation would impact.

The Chamber has long supported the development of the Colorado Academic Standards and the use of smart assessments in our schools. Colorado is now in the process of implementing the standards and assessments that the Chamber believes will equip our students with the skills needed to succeed in a 21st century workplace. Repealing any of these standards and assessments will add significant unnecessary cost and delay implementation of the high standards we need for our students.

The Chamber has consistently opposed any efforts to weaken the existing Labor Peace Act because its statutory framework has been providing a balance to ensure a healthy relationship between business and labor in this state. Colorado’s Labor Peace Act is a unique legal middle ground between right-to-work and union states. The Chamber believes that more should be done to educate the nation on our state’s hybrid approach and how it has contributed to Colorado’s economic well-being.

The Chamber is supportive of voter engagement and expanded participation in the election process. Although Colorado has a unique statewide vote-by-mail program, this bill provides employers the flexibility without undue burden, within our current voting system and trends, to make sure employees have the opportunity to participate in Colorado’s election process.

It is important that we invest in our career and technical education system statewide and equip our students with the skills that will prepare them for the workplace of the future. Trades and technical employers in Colorado face situations where there are more jobs available than skilled people to fill them. This bill will enhance opportunities across Colorado for students following a technical career path and assist in alleviating a labor market shortage in this important field.

The Chamber supports business property tax exemptions that aim to further economic development. This bill reduces the tax burden on small business and allows for more investment in equipment and efficiencies to increase production for Colorado businesses.

This bill increases access to higher education opportunities by removing geographic boundaries as a barrier to education and will equip our future workforce with the skills our economy depends on. Research shows that access to college-level classes while in high school helps prepare students for post-secondary success – this is a critical component of future workforce development.

Expanding uses for reclaimed water is a critical part of the state water plan approved in 2015. We know that using reclaimed water safely in this manner will free up other sources of fresh water for more appropriate uses. We are committed to maximizing the water we receive on the Front Range instead of asking for more.

This legislation is unnecessary because the bill duplicates rights already afforded to all people, regardless of housing status, in the U.S. Constitution.

Expanding uses for reclaimed water is a critical part of the state water plan approved in 2015. We know that using reclaimed water safely in this manner, will free up other sources of fresh water for more appropriate uses. We are committed to maximizing the water we receive on the Front Range instead of asking for more.

Colorado already has the most stringent oil and gas regulations in the country, which are regarded as best practices nationally and internationally, reinforcing the effectiveness of the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in its current form.

Extending the sales and use tax exemption to on-demand air carriers will generate positive economic growth because it leaves more funds for carriers to grow and update their fleets in Colorado, increase access in rural communities to transport people and goods across the state and hire more people.

We are committed to maximizing the water we receive for the Front Range; expanding uses for reclaimed domestic wastewater is a critical part of the state water plan approved in 2015. The use of reclaimed water that has been treated according to water quality standards, protects public health and safety, maximizes our resources and will free up other sources of fresh water for more appropriate uses.

Chamber members have consistently identified rising cost as the biggest concern with regard to health care. This bill undermines the ability of health plans to negotiate with pharmacies to provide patients with lower-cost options thereby making it more costly for businesses to afford these benefits.

Colorado is recognized as a national and international model of responsible oil and gas development. This bill would allow the Commission to tackle larger environmental projects that take more than one year’s worth of funds to address, which is essential to maintaining that balance between responsible development and enforcement of environmental safeguards.

This bill alleviates administrative and financial burden on small business that lack the resources and capacity to employ full-time staff to focus on regulatory compliance.

This bill encourages local workforce housing in rural Colorado, which supports the growth of our state’s economy by providing diverse housing options for our workers throughout Colorado communities.

While data security is a critical concern for all organizations, this bill complicates, and in some cases, may conflict with data privacy processes already in place. As drafted, it would create an unnecessary burden on business, particularly smaller companies. We look forward to working with the bill sponsors on clarifying details, such as notification periods and defining personal information.

The Chamber continues to support the Advanced Industry (AI) Accelerator Act, enacted in 2013, as it enhances innovation, cross-sector partnership, job creation, capital investment and economic success across the state.

This bill duplicates current reporting required by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for oil and gas operations in Colorado. Colorado is recognized as a national and international model of responsible oil and gas development with the most stringent oil and gas regulations in the country.

As the nation continues to move toward a service-based economy, this bill provides a more equitable method for applying taxes, creates a level playing field for Colorado businesses when competing with states who have market-based sourcing systems and supports our economic vitality by making Colorado more attractive for businesses to locate here.

Technology is vital to the future of transportation and connected mobility in Colorado. This bill will enable solutions that improve roadway reliability, efficiency and safety, providing the state with a more easily accessible, technologically advanced and seamlessly integrated mobility system.

Colorado’s economic vitality and competitiveness is dependent on the economic success of both the Front Range and quality of life provided by our mountains and plains. Reinvestment in main streets across the state would continue to drive economic growth, job creation and preservation of historic communities in rural and metro areas.

Our ability to recruit and retain our workforce is critical to our success. The Chamber supports solutions that incentivize the building of attainable housing for our workforce so that Colorado remains an attractive place to do business and live.

The Chamber is committed to helping Colorado companies grow and thrive, attract new businesses and build a strong and healthy workforce. We advocate for policy that makes Colorado the best place to do business and oppose legislation that hinders our ability to do so. If passed, this bill would set Colorado back over several decades and allow for rampant discrimination, sending a message that conflicts with the inclusive and collaborative culture the business community has worked hard to build and maintain here in Colorado and putting our ability to attract top companies and workers at risk.

Investment in professional and educational development for our workforce not only creates a competitive edge for companies to recruit and retain employees, but ensures our workforce can meet the demands and access the knowledge and training necessary to fill the jobs vital to our economic success.

Publishing the cost-benefit analysis of rules and regulations is beneficial to employers because the impacts on business, especially small business, can be evaluated with this process. This data can be used to inform rule-making and to create regulations that support a healthy business climate.

This bill allows state agencies to better understand which rules cause the most confusion to businesses and lead to noncompliance. The Chamber supports legislative strategies that help companies understand state rules and educate them in how to comply, rather than penalize them.

The Colorado Civil Rights Division and Commission are charged with enforcing the state's anti-discrimination laws in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations. They are a valuable and less costly resource for business, especially small business, to resolve discrimination disputes through arbitration and educational programs.

Colorado’s current process for consumer and employment arbitration has shown to be a successful and less costly resource for dispute resolution. Requiring these disclosures could lead to additional unnecessary litigation, slowing down the resolution process and making it more costly and time consuming for Colorado businesses.

Colorado’s current process for consumer and employment arbitration has shown to be a successful and less costly resource for dispute resolution. Requiring these disclosures could lead to additional unnecessary litigation, slowing down the resolution process and making it more costly and time consuming for Colorado businesses.

By 2020, more than half of the jobs in Colorado will require skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Our economic vitality depends on us working together to ensure that our youth are equipped with the 21st-century skills necessary to fulfill the future needs of business and for the jobs our economy depends on. This bill increases access and opportunity for students in school districts across the state to partake in STEM programs that will provide real-world experiences for in-demand jobs.

Energy storage systems can reduce costs, support the increased use of diverse energy sources and increase the safety and reliability of our grid, all of which makes Colorado more a competitive state for economic development. Although this bill is a step to move energy storage forward, the Chamber’s support of this bill is contingent upon an amendment that would allow this initiative to start as a pilot program to limit unintended consequences and allow for necessary fixes prior to full scale.

The cost of energy plays a major role in a company’s decision to locate or expand operations in Colorado, which has a substantial impact on job creation and opportunity for our state. This bill provides a unique, performance-based and value-added approach to attracting and retaining companies across all industry sectors and is in alignment with other state economic development programs. It also sets thoughtful and substantive measures to ensure that eligible projects meet or exceed PUC standards.

This bill imposes a mandate on business and doesn’t consider the innovations in technology and user-friendly mobile applications already in use today by mobile device users to limit distracted driving.

We support responsible energy development, and strong public health, safety and environmental safeguards. However, this bill is unnecessary, the marketplace on its own is moving in the direction of lower greenhouse gas emissions without the need for a mandate. The requirements in this bill are arbitrary and unsupported by any research; and the bill lacks a clear plan in place for how to achieve the reductions it calls for.

The Chamber is appreciative of the approach to incorporate apprentices into existing projects, an opportunity to continue education and training while fulfilling talent needs of our businesses. However, the construction industry currently does not have the capacity to fulfill this requirement. This is burdensome and unattainable mandate for employers that will negatively impact our state’s ability to build important infrastructure projects.

This bill fails to consider the innovations in technology that, coupled with the state’s administered set of stringent rules for responsible oil and gas development, allow for minimal impact to the environment.

Increasing retirement savings is an issue of great importance to the Chamber and the business community. The mandate in this legislation however, is not the appropriate method to increase savings. This mandate creates a significant and costly burden on small businesses. Additionally, as the state continues to work toward a solution to address the state’s pension system’s $32 billion unfunded liability, adding yet another state-run retirement program is not the appropriate path forward.

The Chamber supports efforts to encourage full participation by employers in a workers’ compensation program, ensuring workers and businesses are protected while doing business in Colorado. This bill would bring Colorado employment laws up-to-date and help ensure ongoing interstate commerce with our neighboring states.

Employers are facing labor shortages across the state. This legislation, along with initiatives such as the Chamber’s “Denver Opportunity Youth Initiative”, will assist talented and motivated job-seekers in overcoming barriers to employment and training and expand our workforce.

While the Chamber does not oppose the notion of net neutrality, we believe it is a matter of federal jurisdiction. This bill, in its current form, is overly burdensome regulation that expands the current Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulatory powers and allows the state to issue preferential contracts thereby creating an unfair playing field for Colorado internet service providers.

Trades and technical employers in Colorado often have more jobs than there are skilled people to fill them. It is important that we continue to invest in career and technical training programs such as WORK that bridge the gap between training and educational attainment and expand the pool of skilled workers needed to fill current and future jobs.

We have underfunded transportation for decades, and it’s costing us $6.8 billion each year because of traffic congestion delays, damage to vehicles, accidents and lost gas efficiency. The Chamber is supportive of proposals in the long bill and its satellite bills that aim to provide ongoing investments in our transportation system.

Our economy depends on working together to ensure the state has a skilled and successful workforce. The Chamber is supportive of outcome-based programs such as ReHire Colorado which connects our labor force to employment opportunities where they can learn needed skills on the job and provides opportunity for small businesses who traditionally lack resources to hire additional personnel and provide training, ultimately expanding the pool of skilled workers needed to fill current and future jobs.

We’re committed to support our veterans as they transition into the civilian workforce. We know our veterans have the kind of transferable knowledge, leadership skills and work ethic that make them valuable employees. With more than 395,000 vets in Colorado, there’s a huge opportunity for businesses to engage this talented workforce.

Colorado is recognized as a national and international model of responsible oil and gas development. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which is charged with regulating oil and gas development, has already set forth stringent regulations that place strong emphasis on public health and safety and set distance requirements on oil and gas production activities from high-occupancy facilities. This bill expands on those regulations arbitrarily and would significantly restrict oil and gas development in Colorado.

Accountability is critical to upholding high performance education standards. By providing schools and school districts with the tools and resources needed to improve performance and succeed long-term, we can create a strong education system that prepares our youth to enter the workforce of the future.

In 2016, Colorado voters adopted an amendment to our state constitution that raised the minimum wage for the entire state. This legislative proposal aims to overturn the will of most Colorado voters and create an unpredictable business environment harmful to our economy. In Colorado, many businesses operate across multiple cities and counties. Allowing wages to vary by municipality would create unnecessary complication and increased administrative burden for businesses.

This bill takes away an employer’s ability to request disclosure of salary history from an applicant, a hiring mechanism for many organizations. There are legitimate reasons for which employers can rely on prior salary information, including learning about the market rate for a given position and whether they can afford to hire an applicant. This choice should be reserved for each business to make for themselves.

Early literacy is key to the success of our students – our future workforce. Research shows that students who cannot read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school. The Chamber supported the passage of the READ Act in 2012. It is imperative we continue to work together to ensure all students have access to a quality education that will prepare them to enter the workforce successfully to fill the jobs our economy depends on.

This bill creates an uneven playing field by exempting the transmission of virtual currency and puts consumers at risk by not extending protections that are offered for the rest of the digital banking industry.

Allowing utilities to work with local governments to create more personalized service agreements adds more flexibility into the grid, while protecting and keeping costs stable for ratepayers. This added flexibility could also help attract businesses to Colorado by ensuring their energy needs can be met.

We have underfunded transportation for decades, and it’s costing us $6.8 billion each year because of traffic congestion delays, damage to vehicles, accidents and lost gas efficiency. The Chamber is supportive of proposals that will provide ongoing investments in our transportation system. Without significant investment in our state’s infrastructure, our economy and ability to attract workers will suffer.

Advancements in technology have made significant impacts on everything, from the way we access health care to the way we utilize education. These changes make it critical for rural and underserved communities throughout Colorado to have access to broadband.

While the Chamber is actively engaged in finding solutions to incent the building of attainable housing for our workforce, there is no nexus between the fee and its planned allocation. The current fee is collected strictly to cover the costs of recording documents by the county clerk. Collecting funds beyond the cost of the recording and spending the funds collected on the allocation outlined in this bill creates a TABOR issue. When examining public funding to support building attainable housing, the Chamber believes everyone must contribute toward the solution and no individual or group should bear the burden alone.

Since the original bill was signed into law in January 2015, the state has seen tremendous success with the low-income housing tax credit. This bill would extend the program’s life and further provide families and individuals with opportunities for affordable housing in the state of Colorado. This is a great example of a successful public private partnership in Colorado

Residents of Colorado receive compensation when they distribute energy back to the grid. Without the ability to measure the amount of energy redistributed, the utility cannot adequately compensate a customer for his or her energy. Furthermore, without the ability to monitor the levels of energy returned to the grid, safety is at risk, as the extra energy could result in voltage issues that can cause power surges and grid blackouts.

Expanding uses for reclaimed water is a critical part of the state water plan approved in 2015. We know that using reclaimed water safely in this manner will free up other sources of fresh water for more appropriate uses. We are committed to maximizing the water we receive on the Front Range instead of asking for more.

Colorado has a distinct way of doing business that involves working together, respecting proven processes, compromising and finding common ground. As a state that is recognized as a national and international model of responsible oil and gas development, with strong regulations on all oil and gas production activities, including enforcement of environmental safeguards and protection against waste, a patchwork of local regulations doesn’t make sense. Allowing regulation to vary from each municipality would create unnecessary complication and add an increased administrative burden that would negatively impact the industry and our economy.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has already set forth stringent regulations on oil and gas that benefit the environment and enhance public safety. SB18-063 increases the financial assurance required by the commission to prohibitively high levels. This would lead to the failure of many small operators and even cause the largest of operators to deter investment into Colorado which, in the end, has negative impacts to our state’s overall economy and jobs.

Colorado is already very aggressive in the transition toward an “all of the above” approach when it comes to the usage of renewable energy sources. The marketplace on its own, is moving in the direction toward complete use of renewable energy without the need for a mandate.

The Colorado Lottery has successfully provided funding for outdoor recreation via Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the Conservation Trust Fund and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, all of which generate jobs and provide significant economic benefits to the state. Proceeds collected that exceed the inflation-adjusted cap are allocated to the state’s schools construction assistance fund. Continued investment in Colorado’s outdoor recreation through lottery funds will not only continue to make Colorado an attractive tourist destination but also an attractive place to live and do business.

This bill holds institutions of higher education accountable for upholding their transfer agreements. The Chamber supports removing barriers to educational attainment, allowing more students to be prepared to meet the future needs of businesses and the jobs on which our economy depends.

This bill will ultimately help strengthen the state’s ability to protect itself from cybercrimes and help promote a much-needed pipeline of workers that will help our companies strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure.

Reinstating marijuana tax revenues that were unintentionally removed via SB17-267 will restore special district funding to the levels these organizations had budgeted before the error took place and will allow them to continue to provide services on which our community depends.

It is important that all students have access to an education that will prepare them to enter the workforce successfully. This bill threatens current charter school operations and future development and it could limit school choice which is crucial to parents when making decisions that fulfill their child’s educational needs.

The Chamber is working with more than 30 health care organizations to identify industry-wide strategies that address Colorado’s rising health care costs. Throughout this process, requests for transparency and continue to emerge. The disclosures required in this bill could help patients make more informed decisions about the health care services they receive.

The creation of this commission streamlines the call process to conduct excavation projects in Colorado, bringing important enforcement procedures up-to-date, increasing clarity and public safety.

Advances in technology continue to change the way we live and work. This bill, addresses the innovations of the on-demand sector, allowing independent contractors the ability to operate and provide services to consumers in a business environment that supports these innovative workplace arrangements which will become more prevalent in the future.

The Chamber supported the original FASTER legislation signed into law in 2009 (SB09-108), which generates about $200 million every year from registration fees and fines for critical state transportation projects across Colorado. Terminating the use of FASTER fee revenue for transit would eliminate funding available to improve roadway safety, repair bridges and support and expand transit across Colorado. If passed, this bill would be harmful to communities that rely on FASTER funds to complete multimodal projects that reduce traffic and congestion on our roads.

It is critically important to make the necessary changes to improve the financial viability of PERA in this 2018 legislative session. Every year that the legislature fails to act costs Colorado taxpayers more money and negatively impacts the state’s credit rating and its ability to attract companies and jobs. Although this bill is not perfect, it is an important step towards addressing the state’s pension system’s $32 billion unfunded liability.

The Chamber is supportive of a diverse energy economy. This bill encourages investment in innovation, infrastructure and alternative fuel and energy technologies.

Colorado is recognized as a national and international model of responsible oil and gas development. By proactively updating this statute and providing more protections for non-consenting mineral rights owners, this bill allows the pooling process to be facilitated more fairly for all parties involved.

This bill creates an uneven playing field by exempting the transmission of virtual currency and puts consumers at risk by not extending protections that are offered for the rest of the digital banking industry.

For 150 years, the Chamber has been a leading voice for small and large businesses across the state, ensuring Colorado remains an attractive place to do business and live. Designating a new commission that is balanced, equally comprised and representative of all Coloradans, will avoid gerrymandering and ensure a more transparent and competitive redistricting and reapportionment process for Colorado.

For 150 years, the Chamber has been a leading voice for small and large businesses across the state, ensuring Colorado remains an attractive place to do business and live. Designating a new impartial commission that is balanced, equally comprised and representative of all Coloradans, will avoid gerrymandering and ensure a more transparent and competitive redistricting and reapportionment processes for Colorado.