As the Colorado state legislature enters its third week, lawmakers have already introduced several bills that could have a significant impact on the business community. Here are seven that were introduced on the first day of the 2024 Colorado General Assembly:
- Senate Bill 24-020: Alcohol Beverage Delivery and Takeout
- by Sen. Dylan Roberts, Rep. William Lindstedt, and Rep. Rose Pugliese, this bill aims to allow businesses to continue offering alcoholic beverages for takeout and delivery beyond the current sunset date of July 1, 2025.
- House Bill 24-1008: Wage Claims Construction Industry Contractors
- proposed legislation, sponsored by House Majority Leader Monica Duran, Rep. Meg Froelich, Sen. Jessie Danielson, and Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, all Democrats, would hold both general contractors and subcontractors liable for debts owed by a subcontractor from a wage claim or investigation. It also introduces requirements for subcontractors to provide pay data and information about any civil or administrative proceedings.
- Senate Bill 24-002: Local Government Property Tax Credits Rebates
- by Sen. Dylan Roberts, Rep. Julie McCluskie, and Rep. Lisa Frizell, this bill would allow local governments to implement programs offering property tax credits and rebates to incentivize certain uses of property, such as converting short-term rentals to long-term rentals or opening childcare centers.
- House Bill 24-1007: Residential Occupancy Limits
- bill, introduced by Rep. Manny Rutinel, Rep. Javier Mabrey, Sen. Tony Exum, and Sen. Julie Gonzales, all Democrats, aims to prohibit local governments from enacting or enforcing residential occupancy limits unless tied to minimum square footage per person requirements for safety, health, and welfare reasons.
- House Bill 24-1004: Ex-Offenders Practice in Regulated Occupations
- by Rep. Jennifer Bacon, Rep. Shannon Bird, and Sen. James Coleman, all Democrats, this measure would allow regulators evaluating applications for state-regulated occupations to consider an applicant’s conviction of violent felonies or misdemeanors. Non-violent offenses would not be considered after three years.
- Senate Bill 24-033: Lodging Property Tax Treatment
- by Sen. Chris Hansen and Rep. Mike Weissman, both Democrats, this bill seeks to classify short-term rental properties rented out for more than 90 days in a tax year as lodging property instead of residential. It also establishes a pilot program for a statewide database and reporting system to track short-term rental units.
- House Bill 24-1014: Deceptive Trade Practice Significant Impact Standard
- by Rep. Mike Weissman, Rep. Javier Mabrey, and Sen. Julie Gonzales, all Democrats, this bill aims to change the standard required to file a claim of unfair or deceptive business practices. Under the proposed legislation, consumers would need to provide evidence of an intentional unfair or deceptive act that constitutes a significant impact on the public.
As these bills make their way through the legislative process, the impact on the business community will become clearer. The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has expressed support for bipartisan legislation that promotes economic growth in diverse communities, suggesting that some of these bills align with their goals.
It remains to be seen how these bills will ultimately shape Colorado’s business landscape.