| The Last Gasp.
It’s the final days of the session. The days are longer, tempers may flare more readily, and everyone is tired. A fellow lobbyist brought in doughnuts for everyone with a sign, “we are in this together”.
Let’s update some bills; there’s good news and bad news, as usual this time of year.
HB23-1078 - Dependent Unemployment Benefits: This bill proposed to provide a $35 per week benefit per minor child to persons receiving unemployment benefits. CBA testified in opposition to this bill in the House. The bill was heard in Senate Business Labor and Technology Committee late Tuesday evening May 2. The State Chamber and Colorado Competitive Council testified in opposition to the legislation. While only sharing their concerns with the bill sponsors in the House, Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment testified in opposition to the legislation in the Senate. The state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund (UITF) is insolvent. During the pandemic the Trust Fund incurred $1 billion in debt from the influx of workers losing jobs. Last year, SB22-234 restored $600 million to the UITF. Even with this partial funding of the Trust Fund, it will be years before the fund is solvent. The fund does not receive support from the state budget; employers pay into the UITF for workers that lose employment through no fault of their own. This is not the time to consider new programs or to implement additional burdens on the Trust Fund. Sen. Rodriguez and Sen. Ginal voted No on the bill with the three Republicans on the committee defeating the proposal. This is a win for business. HB23-1092 - Colorado Consumer Protection Act: This bill proposed significant changes to Colorado Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) which would increase the likelihood of litigation and make it easier for consumers to litigate under CCPA. During the Senate Judiciary Hearing a trial lawyer actually testified if the bill passed as written, he would make enough money to send his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to college. CBA issued a Call to Action on this bill. I’m pleased to let you know the Call to Action was effective! Section 1 of the bill addressing CCPA was removed from the bill on Monday, May 1. The remainder of the bill addresses anti-trust issues not relevant to financial services. Sen. Roberts was the key vote in Senate Judiciary on this bill. This is a win for business. SB23-172 - Protecting Opportunities and Workers Rights: This legislation provides a new definition of harassment that does not include severe or pervasive to constitute discriminatory or unfair practice. This legislation lowers the threshold for workplace harassment. To protect employers, when determining harassment, courts would consider the totality of circumstance including whether there was a power imbalance between the alleged victim and alleged accused and whether the act involved use of slurs, humiliation, or stereotypes about protected classes. The bill states that petty slights, minor annoyances, and lack of manners do not constitute harassment. The bill is on its way to the Governor for consideration. This bill was negotiated as a compromise and is workable for business. HB1253 - Study Corporate Housing: The bill was introduced by Reps Sharbini and Lindsey. The Senate sponsor is Sen. Hinrichsen. The bill proposes a task force to study corporate housing ownership and to examine data concerning home sales and home ownership in Colorado. As introduced, CBA was in an amend position on this legislation to include a banker as part of the task force. During Second Reading in the House, the bill was amended to include: “ONE MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS A STATEWIDE TRADE ASSOCIATION OF BANKS AND OTHER LENDERS”. This bill is scheduled for hearing in Senate Local Government on Thursday, May 4. We do not anticipate any significant revelations from the task force that would impact the financial services industry. We anticipate the findings to be neutral for business. HB23-1171 – Just Cause Eviction: This bill prohibits a landlord from evicting a residential tenant unless the landlord has a “just cause” for eviction. CBA in collaboration with the greater business coalition is in opposition to this legislation. During the House hearing on the bill, the bill sponsor, Rep. Mabrey, repeatedly referenced the end-of-lease contract and non-renewal as an eviction. This bill is scheduled for a hearing on Thursday May 4 in Senate Local Government. Sen. Roberts has been the key vote to defeat this bill in committee in the Senate. Unfortunately, he is being replaced by one of the senate bill sponsors for this committee, so the bill is now expected to pass the committee. This is not a business-friendly bill. A Final Thought: When President Ulysses Grant approved Colorado statehood, the state did not have a state flag. Locals created an “unofficial” banner with a blue background and the state seal. In 1907, the first official state flag was created with the state seal and the Latin Motto, “Nil sine numine” (Nothing without Providence or Deity). The very formal flag had few admirers, and the only physical copy never flew in public, but sat in a closet in the State Capitol. In late 1910, the Daughters of the American Revolution met in Denver to discuss the creation of a state flag.
They accepted design submissions for consideration and decided upon a striped flag with the state seal. William H. Sharpley, renowned politician of the day and state senator, lobbied the flag bill, only to get a “ho-hum” response. Andrew Carlisle Carson knew something had to change. He made the design we know today to the pleasure of the legislature. The new design is said to have passed unanimously in the Senate and House of Representatives on April 25 and May 6, 1911, respectively. Some bills do make it through without a fight!!
Alison Morgan, Director of State Government Relations |
