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DENVER – The Colorado Chamber of Commerce today released its 2024 Legislative Agenda ahead of the upcoming state legislative session. The agenda is guided by the Chamber’s recent launch of Vision 2033, a 10-year strategic action plan for Colorado’s business climate.
“Colorado is one of the most desirable places to live in the country, but our competitive advantage is slipping,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “We can’t afford to get complacent. The Colorado Chamber’s goal is to make our state a national example for good business. We want to promote job creation and growth for decades to come, and this legislative agenda is one of the first steps in getting us back on track.”
“This session, we’re tackling big-picture business issues to set us on a course to drive economic growth,” said Meghan Dollar, senior vice president of governmental affairs and political operations. “Our 2024 priorities are based on extensive research, data, and direct feedback from our many employers across the state that are invested in Colorado’s success. We’re pursing proactive legislation on critical issues like workforce development, cost of living, and environmental goals. We will also continue to aggressively protect the statewide business community against bills creating new costs and inhibiting Colorado’s competitiveness.”
The Colorado Chamber’s priority legislation includes proposals developed through its industry and issue-based alliances. The Education to Employment Alliance played a critical role in formulating solutions-oriented proposals to tackle workforce challenges. Specifically, the Chamber will be advancing legislation to improve regional talent plans that anchor workforce development efforts across the state, including sector partnerships.
In addition, through its Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action Task Force, the Chamber will be supporting new technology and innovative solutions to help the state meet climate goals, including a regulatory framework and incentives for carbon capture and underground storage.
The Chamber’s broad focus remains on improving Colorado’s regulatory climate and fighting proposals that create unnecessary burdens on business. The issue continues to top the charts in business leader polls, posing a major threat to the Colorado’s competitiveness and driving employers out of state.
The Colorado Chamber’s 2024 Legislative Agenda is summarized below:
Regulatory Climate
- Do no harm: no new mandates and regulatory burdens on employers
- Oppose attempts to interfere in employer-employee workweek schedules
- Protect the solvency of Colorado’s Unemployment Insurance Fund to prevent premium hikes
- Educate lawmakers on regulatory impact
- Oppose needless new private rights of action against business
- Oppose the removal of noneconomic damage caps in Colorado
- Protect Colorado’s current workers’ compensation system and oppose changes that skyrocket costs to employers
- Ensure new and existing environmental regulations are cost effective and science-based
- Support employee autonomy in commuting to work
- Allow business to innovate and lead on environmental sustainability
- Support innovative solutions using new technologies to meet climate goals
- Support choice in energy consumption and appliances
- Oppose efforts that limit the operations of the energy sector
- Align state and federal environmental regulations
- Avoid complex, costly new permitting schemes on manufacturing and industrial operations
Building the Workforce of the Future
- Support legislation to improve regional talent development goals and action plans
- Improve workforce data collection and transparency
- Realign the pathways offered in schools with the needs of employers
- Streamline and incentivize employer participation in career connected learning opportunities
- Ensure education providers are focused on the skills employers need
Cost of Living and Competitiveness
- Support policies to increase housing in Colorado
- Support innovative housing funding policies
- Identify long-term solutions to property tax structure
- Oppose efforts limiting housing supply or increasing costs
- Oppose tax hikes that increase the cost of doing business in Colorado
- Improve access and affordability of childcare
- Support the reduction and eventual phase-out of the Business Personal Property Tax
- Promote flexibility, oppose new mandates on health care industries
Tech Innovation and Economic Growth
- Support policies that ensure Colorado’s technology sector continues to grow
- Develop regulatory roadmap for responsible deployment of artificial intelligence
- Promote safe online environment for children
- Monitor new policies that address Colorado’s DNC and TNC platforms
- Assess and propose ways to streamline the security clearance process
For a full explanation of each priority, view the Chamber’s 2024 Legislative Agenda here: https://cochamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-Chamber-Lege-Agenda.pdf
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The Colorado Chamber of Commerce champions free enterprise, a healthy business environment and economic prosperity for all Coloradans. It is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. What the Colorado Chamber accomplishes is good for all businesses, and that’s good for the state’s economy. It was created in 1965 based on the merger with the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association.