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DENVER – The Colorado Chamber today announced 15 legislators as its MVPs for the 2025 legislative session. The Chamber also honored Sen. Kyle Mullica with the 2025 Business Warrior award and Sen. Lisa Frizell with the 2025 Business Defender award.
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.
“The 2025 legislative session marked important progress for Colorado’s economy, and these lawmakers were instrumental to that success,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “Through collaboration and thoughtful policymaking, they helped advance policies that strengthened Colorado’s business climate, addressed key challenges facing the business community and delivered meaningful wins to keep Colorado competitive.”
“These legislators stood out for their leadership and willingness to engage on the tough issues impacting Colorado employers,” said Meghan Dollar, senior vice president of governmental affairs and political operations. “They demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing sound state policy, helping stop harmful proposals while working closely with the Colorado Chamber to implement forward-thinking legislation that supports businesses and helps position Colorado for long-term economic strength.”
The awards were given at the Colorado Chamber’s Legislative Kickoff Reception Thursday evening and were determined based on lawmakers’ records from the previous legislative session.
Below are the legislators selected for this year’s awards and highlights of how they advocated for the business community during the 2025 legislative session:
- Sen. Kyle Mullica received the Colorado Chamber’s Business Warrior Award. He played a key role in defeating problematic legislation as well as advancing measures that increased accountability for the Division of Insurance while protecting important programs without imposing unnecessary or burdensome fees on businesses.
- Sen. Lisa Frizell received the Colorado Chamber’s Business Defender Award. She spent countless hours in committee hearings advocating for her constituents and the business community and is recognized for her careful, productive approach and willingness to work across the aisle.
- Senate President James Coleman served as a critical collaborator in the advancement of legislation focused on lowering the cost of living and expanding housing opportunities for Coloradans.
- Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer fought alongside the business community to advance transparency and accountability in state government.
- Sen. William Lindstedt helped defeat legislation that would have significantly increased the cost of doing business in Colorado.
- Sen. Larry Liston passed important legislation to expand Colorado’s energy options by classifying nuclear energy as a clean energy resource.
- Sen. Janice Rich was a steadfast advocate and key voice for small businesses, the backbone of Colorado’s economy.
- Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez led important business legislation as the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 25-306, priority legislation for the Colorado Chamber of Commerce.
- Senate Minority Leader Cleave Simpson advocated for rural businesses and remained committed to strengthening rural Colorado’s economy.
- Rep. Carlos Barron successfully helped amend budget legislation to require increased accountability from the Air Pollution Control Division.
- Rep. Sean Camacho worked diligently to prevent unnecessary fees from being imposed on Colorado businesses.
- Rep. Michael Carter prevented the passage of legislation that would have expanded red tape and compliance requirements for businesses across the board.
- Rep. Cecelia Espenoza served as a thoughtful member of the House Judiciary Committee and played a key role in defeating legislation that would have increased liability for businesses.
- Rep. Anthony Hartsook demonstrated a consistent commitment to strengthening Colorado’s economy through steadfast advocacy for the business community.
- Rep. Amy Paschal recognized the need for predictability and a thoughtful approach to climate policy while serving on the House Energy and Environment Committee.
- Rep. Gretchen Rydin was a collaborative member of the Business Affairs and Labor Committee, valuing input and dialogue while helping defeat legislation harmful to businesses.
- Rep. Rick Taggart worked with the business community to pass meaningful legislation to review certain state agencies and ensure effective implementation of existing laws.
To learn more about the Chamber’s evaluation of the 2025 legislative session, view the Colorado Chamber’s 2025 Annual Report. Details on the Chamber’s priorities for the 2026 legislative session are available in Colorado Chamber’s 2026 Legislative Agenda.
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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.