Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Colorado General Assembly is altering its schedule during the current legislative session. The General Assembly will temporarily adjourn until March 30, 2020. Colorado’s Constitution limits a legislative session to 120 calendar days. The current legislative session is scheduled to adjourn sine die no later than on May 6, 2020. […]
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Colorado Chamber Testifies Against Public Option Plan
On Wednesday evening, during a seven hour hearing in the House Health and Insurance Committee, the Colorado Chamber testified against House Bill 1349, the public option bill. While the measure ultimately passed on a party line vote, it was met with strong opposition from members of the business community over concerns about cost-shifting, government rate-setting, […]
Emergency Sick Leave Requirements Adopted by Labor Department
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) has passed final emergency rules on paid sick leave due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). The rules follow the State of Emergency declared by Governor Polis yesterday, which included directives for CDLE to 1) engage in emergency rulemaking for temporary paid sick leave and 2) identify additional supports and […]
Colorado Chamber Opposes Litigious Trial Lawyer Legislation, HB 1348
The Colorado Chamber’s Governmental Affairs and Labor and Employment Councils have taken “opposed” positions on HB 1348, a bill being pushed by the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association to expand liability to the business community for certain civil claims. The bill seeks to overturn a recent Colorado Supreme Court decision (Ferrer v. Okbamicael) which held that when […]
Colorado Chamber Encourages Employers to Prepare for Possible Coronavirus Spread
For media inquiries, please contact Cynthia Meyer at [email protected]. DENVER – Amid the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Colorado, the Colorado Chamber released the following statement from Colorado Chamber President Chuck Berry: “We encourage businesses across Colorado to take proactive steps to prepare for the possible spread of the virus, including keeping sick employees […]
Colorado Chamber Statement on Public Option Proposal
For media inquiries, please contact Cynthia Meyer at [email protected]. DENVER – The Colorado Chamber of Commerce released the following statement from Senior Vice President of State and Federal Relations Loren Furman following the unveiling of the long-awaited public health insurance option proposal by state Sen. Kerry Donovan and Rep. Dylan Roberts: “There is no question […]
EPA Highlights a Reduction in Toxic Release, Increase in Waste Recycling in Colorado
Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday spoke to the Colorado Chamber’s Energy and Environment Council about new data on chemical releases from facilities in Colorado, highlighting a reduction in pollution and an increase in recycling among the Colorado business community. Overall, total on and off-site chemical releases from 242 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) […]
WATCH: Mayors talk transportation, health care, growth at Colorado Business Day
On January 30th, 2020, the Colorado Chamber hosted Colorado Business Day, an annual event in which the business community comes together to discuss the legislative session and other key policy issues. Five mayors participated for a panel discussion titled “Mayors Mean Business for Colorado,” including Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet, […]
Costly Energy Use Tax Bill Revived, Moving to Finance Committee
House Bill 1025, which would make it more difficult for businesses to take the industrial energy use tax exemption, was approved yesterday by a 6-5 vote in the House Energy and Environment Committee after it was amended in an attempt to address concerns from its last committee hearing. The Colorado Chamber is opposed to the […]
Lawmakers Unanimously Reject Bill Preventing Employers from Implementing Zero-Tolerance Policies
The House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor yesterday voted 10-0 against House Bill 1089, which would have prohibited employers from terminating employees for marijuana use off-duty. The bill would have created logistical and administrative problems for employers, contradicted agreements many businesses have with the federal government, and presented many legal issues at the state […]