The Colorado Chamber held its final policy council meetings of the 2026 legislative session, taking positions on key bills affecting the business community and discussing strategy for the last two weeks of session.
The Tax Council met on Friday, voting to oppose a bill that would create increased tax liability for nonresidential property owners and changed their position on a bill as it was resolved through amendments in the Senate Finance Committee.
The Energy and Environment Council convened on Wednesday to vote on recently introduced legislation and change positions on amended bills. The group supported legislation aimed at ensuring emissions reductions plans don’t impede consumers’ access to reliable electricity and proposed modifications to requirements for wind powered energy facilities.
Tax Council Positions:
HB 1233: Oppose
The bill proposes significant changes to property tax procedures for nonresidential properties, including expanding options to penalize property owners and narrowing existing law that protects property owners during the tax appeal process. The Colorado Chamber opposed the bill because it would create significant tax liability for property owners.
SB 116: Oppose to Monitor
The introduced version of the bill allowed municipalities to create a lodging tax if approved by voters. It also set requirements for the valuation of lodging property and mad changes to business personal property tax exemptions. The Chamber changed its position from “oppose” to “monitor” after amendments cut the problematic sections related to property tax valuation, addressing member concerns and avoiding cost of living increases for Coloradans.
Energy & Environment Council Positions:
SB 182: Support
This legislation would allow municipally owned utilities to file updated clean energy plans with a three-year deadline extension for 2030 emissions goals. The Chamber voted to support the bill to allow utilities sufficient time to reach clean energy goals and avoid cost increases or reliability issues for consumers.
HB 1420: Support
The bill modifies an existing requirement for wind energy facilities related to aircraft detecting technology. The Energy & Environment Council supported the bill because it is a necessary fix to address penalties for developers caused by federal delays in permitting approvals.
HB 1226: Oppose to Monitor
This proposal sets requirements for public utilities operating power-producing units that were federally ordered to remain open to file reports with the Public Utility Commission and sets emissions reduction goals for electricity generating units. The Energy and Environment Council changed position from “oppose” to “monitor” after amendments successfully addressed concerns with the retirement of certain power producing units.
SB 002: Oppose to Monitor
The bill requires a utility to establish an income-qualified assistance program to assist residential customers with utility costs. The Energy & Environment Council position from “oppose” to “monitor” after amendments aligned the bill’s requirements with existing percentage based assistance programs.
SB 22: Support to Monitor
The bill was aimed at allowing utilities additional flexibility in reaching clean energy goals by filing a report with the Public Utilities Commission outlining the specific challenges they are facing with current targets. The Council changed its position from “support” to “monitor” after new legislation was introduced that creates a more efficient process for utilities to file an updated clean energy plan.