Gov. John Hickenlooper on Monday signed House Bill 1136, also known as the Job Protection and Civil Rights Enforcement Act of 2013. The new law “expands available remedies for workers to recover compensatory and punitive damages from employers who have intentionally engaged in discriminatory practices,” Hickenlooper said. The damage awards are limited to $10,000 for […]
In the News
Hickenlooper pressured to veto some business measures
Business groups — unable to persuade Democrats to kill or significantly amend bills they consider bad for private companies — are asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto as many as five Democrat-sponsored bills that could land on his desk. Begging a Democratic governor to go against his own party isn’t new. Business leaders did that nearly every […]
Colorado lawmakers pull plug on union lockout bill
Grocery workers will not be able to receive unemployment benefits during defensive lockouts this year, after the sponsor of a bill to make that major change to state labor law killed her proposal Friday rather than pass it and have it get vetoed by Gov.John Hickenlooper. Sen. Lucia Guzman, D-Denver, said that while it was tough to give […]
Who’s got the best approach to create jobs in Colorado?
Statehouse Democrats and Republicans are both pushing so-called “jobs bills” this legislative session, but the two parties take fundamentally different approaches to the issue. Business groups wonder how many jobs will actually be created by legislation still under consideration. House Democrats define “jobs bills” broadly as those that help foster economic development, connect people to […]
Family, medical leave expansion next big battle at Colorado statehouse
Now that the fights over civil unions, the most controversial gun bills and in-state college tuition for undocumented immigrants at the Legislature have ended, Capitol observers might be wondering what issue will spur the next big battle. Mark your calendars for Friday, when the House is expected to take up debate on a bill to […]
Colorado business battles bills it considers bad for companies
See correction at end of article. Business leaders are fighting a “deluge” of bills introduced in the Colorado Legislature this year that would make it easier for employees to take action — either through lawsuits or complaints to state agencies — against their employers. Bills to increase penalties for wage theft, expand federal anti-discrimination law […]
Williams, DelGrosso make changes that help advance bills
About the only thing that House Bill 1046 and House Bill 1206 had in common was the likelihood they’d be controversial. HB 1046, sponsored by Rep. Angela Williams, D-Denver, would ban employers from forcing workers or job applicants to give them access to their private social-media sites. HB 1206, sponsored by Rep.Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, was another […]
Pipeline bill becomes battle
By Marianne Goodland A bill that began as a simple, technical change to a 19th century statute has turned into a much bigger battle over whether the state should grant eminent domain rights to oil and petroleum companies. Sponsors of Senate Bill 13-021 claim the bill would merely make a technical correction in state law to […]
Technical change turns to eminent domain battle
By Marianne Goodland A bill that began as a simple, technical change to a 19th-century statute has turned into a much bigger battle over whether the state should grant eminent domain rights to oil and petroleum companies. Sponsors of Senate Bill 13-021 claim the bill would merely make a technical correction in state law to add […]
Colorado senators give a rare mention to The Colorado Chamber
Never has the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry (The Colorado Chamber) seemed to wield so much power with legislative Democrats — especially when it doesn’t actually take a stance on a bill. The Colorado Senate gave preliminary approval Monday to Senate Bill 18, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Ulibarri, D-Commerce City, which would limit employers’ ability […]