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DENVER – The Colorado Chamber of Commerce today announced 16 legislators as its 2024 MVPs for the 2024 legislative session. These leaders played a crucial role in securing major victories for the business community, including the passage of historic legislation that improved Colorado’s business landscape and the resounding defeat of several bills that threatened businesses and jobs.
“These key legislators were instrumental in advancing policies at the Capitol to improve our statewide business climate, leading to one of the most successful legislative sessions for business in years,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “Through a great deal of work and collaboration, we have been able to address key challenges, implement forward-thinking policies, and put us on the right course to elevate Colorado’s business climate.”
“As Colorado’s economic competitiveness faces challenges, it’s crucial now more than ever to advocate for a healthy business climate, beginning with sound state-level policies,” said Meghan Dollar, senior vice president of governmental affairs and political operations. “The 2024 Colorado Chamber MVP Award recipients demonstrated exceptional leadership in championing the business community and worked closely with the Colorado Chamber to safeguard the state’s economic position, often making difficult votes to protect the state’s job creators.”
Below are the legislators selected for this year’s MVP awards and highlights of how they went to bat for the business community this session:
- Senate President Steve Fenberg was a consequential partner with the business community on issues such as housing, tax, and energy.
- Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen stood up for the business community time and time again to defeat bills that increased the cost and burden on businesses.
- Assistant Senate Minority Leader Bob Gardner was a crucial defender for Colorado businesses in 2024, specifically against excessive litigation costs.
- Sen. Janet Buckner was instrumental in defeating legislation that would have substantially increased taxes on short-term rentals statewide.
- Sen. Nick Hinrichsen was essential in significantly amending legislation regarding PFAs that would have negatively impacted Colorado’s economy.
- Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer was a key voice for the business community during negotiations for legislation that will ratchet down commercial and residential property taxes.
- Sen. Larry Liston championed the importance of protecting and improving Colorado’s competitiveness as a member of the Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee.
- Sen. Byron Pelton fought on behalf of Colorado’s businesses against environmental legislation that would have killed jobs in Colorado.
- Sen. Dylan Roberts was instrumental in the defeat of legislation to eradicate the oil and gas industry in Colorado.
- Sen. Jim Smallwood led the charge against legislation that attempted to move Colorado toward a single-payer healthcare system.
- Sen. Cleave Simpson was a steadfast supporter of the economy of rural Colorado with his work on water and environmental legislation.
- House Speaker Julie McCluskie highlighted the importance of improving the education to employment pipeline by running key workforce legislation.
- House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese was a key leader in protecting Colorado’s competitiveness and defending businesses against unnecessarily burdensome legislation.
- Rep. Lindsey Daugherty was vital in brokering meaningful balanced legislation on workers’ compensation caps in Colorado.
- Rep. Gabe Evans recognized the need for stability and predictability when it came to several pieces of environmental legislation.
- Rep. Lisa Frizell worked tirelessly on important legislation that will lower taxes for businesses and homeowners.
To learn more about the Chamber’s evaluation of the 2024 legislative session, view the Colorado Chamber’s 2024 Annual Report.
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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.