The Colorado Chamber saw another victory on its opposition agenda campaign with the defeat of one of its Wallet Watchdog bills in committee this week. House Bill 1271 was rejected by the House Health and Human Services Committee this week after it was opposed by the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Council.
The bill attempted to set fees on beer, wine and liquor companies to fund a new government-run Alcohol Impact and Recovery Enterprise. These added costs on producers would have resulted in higher prices for consumers and new financial burdens on an industry that plays a critical role in Colorado’s economy. According to the bill’s fiscal note, it would have created $35.5 million in new taxes on the industry beginning next year.
The Colorado Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Council opposed the bill to protect an industry driving significant revenue and creating job opportunities across the state. Colorado’s beer industry alone employs over 61,000 people and contributes $13 billion to the state’s economy.
“Colorado’s hospitality and beverage industries need stability, certainty and partnership from policymakers — not a major tax increase at one of the most difficult moments in recent memory,” said Chamber Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs Meghan Dollar in her testimony on Tuesday evening. “With the highest cost increases in generations and continued closures across the state, HB 1271 would only deepen the challenges facing these local employers.”
The bill died in committee on a vote of 8-5.
Learn more about the bill’s background on the Colorado Chamber’s Podcast and see the latest news from The Sum and Substance.