Every day in Colorado, business owners are faced with decisions most people never see, shaped by rising costs and a regulatory environment that has grown more complex over time. Those choices eventually reveal themselves across our local communities when longstanding businesses close, housing projects stall, or job opportunities become harder to find. For years, employers across the state have been raising these concerns, and the data shows they’re right.
Last year, the Colorado Chamber released a study that became one of the most talked about reports of the 2025 state legislature. It found Colorado is the sixth-most regulated state in the nation, with wide-reaching effects on jobs, socioeconomic conditions and our broader economy. The chamber recently released an annual update to track whether things have improved year-over-year. The good news is our ranking did not get worse — but unfortunately, it didn’t get better either. Colorado remains in the No. 6 spot, still among the most heavily regulated states in the country.
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