This Thursday, the Colorado Chamber Tech Alliance and Legal Reform Alliance convened to take positions on introduced bills and discuss policy developments.
The Legal Reform Alliance voted on a bill proposing sweeping changes to Colorado’s arbitration process and discussed draft legislation that would limit non-legal entities participation in Colorado’s legal system. The Tech Alliance discussed changes to bills moving through the legislative process, took positions on proposals affecting the state’s tech industry and heard updates on the findings of the state’s artificial intelligence working group.
Legal Reform Alliance Positions:
HB 1236: Oppose
The bill makes significant changes to Colorado’s arbitration process by prohibiting longstanding provisions and significantly impeding its effectiveness. The Legal Reform Alliance voted to oppose the bill because it increases the potential for unnecessary and costly litigation and substantial delays in reaching resolutions.
Tech Alliance Positions:
HB 1263: Amend
This proposal would require developers and operators of conversational artificial intelligence services to provide certain disclosures and institute consumer protection systems. The Chamber’s Tech Alliance voted to amend the bill to ensure it addresses necessary consumer safety issues without excessively burdening a growing industry.
SB 90: Support
This legislation would exempt technology equipment that is used in critical infrastructure from Colorado’s right to repair laws. The Colorado Chamber took a “support” position because the bill ensures safety and reliability by requiring that the state’s integral systems are repaired by trained professionals.
HB 1058: Support
The legislation creates new requirements surrounding minors who are featured in compensated online content including requirements surrounding proof of age, allocating a portion of gross earnings into a trust account for the minor and prohibiting a person from financially benefiting from online content of a minor with the intent to elicit a sexual response in the viewer. Alliance members voted to change the Chamber’s position from “amend” to “support” after the bill was amended to clarify certain definitions in the bill.
HB 1043: Monitor
The bill removes the requirement that a transportation network company (TNC) must first have written notice of a TNC driver’s violation of discrimination prohibitions against a rider before the public utilities commission may assess a civil penalty against the TNC. The Alliance voted to change their position from “amend” to “monitor” after Representative Rydin worked to address concerns from affected businesses and reached a consensus.