Workforce development continues to be a top issue for Colorado employers, and a bill making its way through the legislative process aims to address these challenges by better aligning Colorado’s higher education and workforce development programs.
House Bill 1317 would create a transition advisory committee to develop a plan for integrating oversight of postsecondary education and workforce programs across state government. The committee would make recommendations on how these programs are structured, including potential changes to the Department of Higher Education and how various offices, agencies and functions are organized.
The goal of the bill is to improve coordination between education and workforce programs so that more Coloradans are prepared to fill in-demand jobs. Employers across the state continue to cite workforce availability and skills gaps as major challenges, and better alignment between higher education and businesses is an important step in addressing those issues.
Workforce development is a key focus area of the Colorado Chamber’s 10-year strategic action plan for the state. In 2024, the Chamber played a key role in the passage of HB24-1365, which created and funded regional workforce summits statewide. With the Chamber’s leadership and collaboration, the workforce summits concluded last summer with findings established in the 2025 Colorado Talent Pipeline Report.
In a statement following the introduction of the bill, Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman said the following:
“If we want to remain competitive as a state, Colorado’s workforce must be equipped with the right skills to fill the jobs employers need and adapt to our growing and diverse economy,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “This requires breaking down barriers between higher education institutions and businesses, ensuring there are ongoing strategies in place to fill skills gaps and create opportunity for Coloradans. Streamlining how state government approaches the postsecondary education and training is a critical step forward to support our state’s overall business climate, further improve our talent pipeline, and secure Colorado’s future.”
The bill passed the House Education Committee unanimously last week and the Colorado Chamber’s Government Affairs Council took a support position on the bill this Tuesday.