Colorado Capitol Report

State and Local Chamber Partnerships Create a Powerful, Unified Voice for Business

State and Local Chamber Partnerships Create a Powerful, Unified Voice for Business

The Colorado Chamber of Commerce proudly partners with local chambers across the state to amplify our message in support of Colorado businesses. Below are just some of the ways we work together with approximately 45 local chamber partners to achieve more for all of our members:

Government Affairs and Advocacy at the State Legislature

Local chambers who are members of the Colorado Chamber receive the benefit of an in-house government affairs advisor from the most trusted source serving the Colorado business community: the Colorado Chamber. This partnership enables local chambers that may not have a staff member, lobbyist or even an organization policy committee to fulfill the business advocacy portion of their mission.

The Colorado Chamber relies on local chambers to demonstrate a unified front on business issues. When local business communities around the state are unified on an issue, lawmakers at the state capitol listen. That’s why local chamber involvement is critical to our success.

For example, in the 2019 legislative session, local chambers of commerce joined together with the Colorado Chamber to push lawmakers to amend a costly family and medical leave insurance bill which would have cost every employee and employer in the state. Thanks to the thoughtful testimony of business leaders across Colorado through the state and local chambers of commerce, lawmakers dramatically changed the bill to reflect the concerns of the business community. Going into next session, this coalition will be even more important as legislators are slated to take up the issue again.

Policy Councils

Local chamber leaders are invited to represent their local business community by participating on the Colorado Chamber’s six Policy Councils.

Policy Councils are at the core of the Colorado Chamber’s mission, offering a unique and exclusive opportunity for Colorado Chamber members to add their expertise and judgment to our legislative strategy. Council meetings provide an open and frank dialogue between members, key legislators and state agency leaders.

Access to Resources

Local chambers receive the Colorado Capitol Report – the Colorado Chamber’s weekly legislative briefing and a source for information on legislative matters pertinent to the business community. This publication can also be shared directly with members of local chambers.

The Colorado Chamber is also passionate about connecting local chambers to resources such as the USDA, which currently has opportunities for grants and loans for infrastructure, innovation and partnerships in rural communities.

Colorado Chamber of Commerce Executives (CCCE)

The Colorado Chamber established CCCE, a peer group of Chamber leaders, professionals and volunteers established to provide professional development and growth opportunities for chambers and chamber leaders. The CCCE organization hired its first executive director, Dot Miller, this spring.

To learn more about this organization, please visit their website by clicking here.

Special Programs & Events

The Colorado Chamber partners with local chamber around the state to present legislative briefings and programs with state officials.

Upcoming programs this year include:

  • A legislative briefing at the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC Board Of Governors breakfast on (August 28).
  • State of the State Business Luncheon: A legislative briefing and presentation by the Colorado Tourism director, Cathy Ritter in Carbondale for a joint program sponsored by the Colorado Chamber and Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs Chambers of Commerce. (September 12 – click here to register)
  • A legislative business briefing and training with the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce (September 13).

Current local chamber partners of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce:

  • Vail Valley Partnership
  • Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce
  • Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce
  • The Colorado Chamber of Commerce
  • Aspen Chamber Resort Association
  • Aurora Chamber of Commerce
  • Boulder Chamber of Commerce
  • Broomfield Chamber of Commerce
  • Cañon City Chamber of Commerce
  • Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce
  • Colorado Springs Regional Chamber and EDC
  • Denver South Economic Development Partnership
  • Durango Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association
  • Grand Junction Area Chamber
  • Greater Golden Chamber of Commerce
  • Greeley Chamber of Commerce
  • Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
  • West Metro Chamber
  • Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Montrose Chamber of Commerce
  • Craig Chamber of Commerce
  • Metro North Chamber of Commerce
  • Arvada Chamber of Commerce
  • Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce
  • The Village at Copper – Copper Mountain Chamber
  • Rifle Chamber of Commerce
  • Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce
  • Windsor Chamber of Commerce
  • Northwest Douglas County EDC & Chamber
  • Limon Chamber of Commerce
  • Erie Chamber of Commerce
  • Cherry Creek Chamber of Commerce
  • Evans Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Parker Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Denver Office of Economic Development
  • Berthoud Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce
  • South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce
  • Westminster Chamber of Commerce
  • New Castle Chamber of Commerce
  • Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce
  • Gunnison Chamber of Commerce

Tax Expenditure Review Committee Tackles More Tax Expenditures & Credits

The legislative Tax Expenditure Evaluation Study Committee will be meeting again next week to discuss another round of tax expenditures, tax credits and deductions allowed for Colorado taxpayers under current law. The goal of this committee is to study the policy recommendations that are prepared by the State Auditor’s Office based on its ongoing Tax Expenditures Compilation Report. The committee plans to discuss the following tax exemptions and tax credits during the meeting:

  • Sales to Charitable Organizations Exemption
  • Rural & Frontier Healthcare Preceptor Credit
  • Tax-Exempt Organization Insurance Premium Tax Deduction
  • Energy Used for Industrial & Manufacturing Purposes Exemption

Meeting Details:

Date: August 19, 2019
Time: 9:30a.m.
Location: Legislative Services Building, Hearing Room A, 200 E. 14th Avenue, Denver (located across street from south side of the Capitol)

The Committee will be taking public testimony during this meeting, therefore if you or your company has an interest in maintaining any of the above tax exemptions, credits or deductions in current law, we would strongly recommend providing testimony during this opportunity.

Tax Council Ideas for Sales & Use Tax Simplification Task Force

We recently reached out to this Tax Council for ideas on ways to reduce regulatory or administrative burdens on taxpayers that the Task Force could consider for potential legislation during the 2020 Legislative Session or that could be implemented through rulemaking changes by the Department of Revenue. Subsequently, we received a great response from Tax Council members and have provided the following list of ideas to Representative Kraft-Tharp, Chair of the Task Force and Representative Van Winkle, Vice-Chair of the Task Force for consideration by the full Task Force.

Additionally, these ideas will be further discussed and explained by Ryan Woods, Tax Consultant, Xcel Energy, who serves as a Task Force member and as Chair of the Colorado Chamber Tax Council.

Upcoming Sales & Use Tax Simplification Task Force Meeting

The legislative Sales & Use Tax Simplification Task Force began meeting again this summer and the next meeting will be held on August 21, 2019 at 10:00a.m. at the State Capitol (Old State Library – Room 271). These meetings are open to the public. The agenda can be viewed here.