Bills Supported by Colorado Union of Taxpayers in Legislative Session
HB1014 – Increasing Efficiency Division of Water Resources
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill for its positive impact on taxpayers and alignment with fiscal responsibility. Sponsored by Dusty Johnson (R), Meghan Lukens (D), Dylan Roberts (D), and Cleave Simpson (R), the bill is currently in committee.
HB1069 – Increase Stakeholder Participation
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill for its positive impact on taxpayers and alignment with fiscal responsibility. Sponsored by Stephanie Luck (R), the bill is currently in committee.
HB1074 – Change Confinement Standards Egg-Laying Hens
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill for its positive impact on taxpayers and alignment with fiscal responsibility. Sponsored by Ryan Gonzalez (R), Barbara Kirkmeyer (R), Ryan Armagost (R), Carlos Barron (R), Mary Bradfield (R), Brandi Bradley (R), Max Brooks (R), Jarvis Caldwell (R), Ken Degraaf (R), Lori Garcia Sander (R), Tony Hartsook (R), Dusty Johnson (R), Rebecca Keltie (R), Rose Pugliese (R), Chris Richardson (R), Matt Soper (R), Larry Suckla (R), Rick Taggart (R), Ron Weinberg (R), Ty Winter (R), Dan Woog (R), Mark Baisley (R), Scott Bright (R), Marc Catlin (R), Lisa Frizell (R), Larry Liston (R), Paul Lundeen (R), Rod Pelton (R), Byron Pelton (R), Janice Rich (R), Cleave Simpson (R), the bill is currently dead.
HB1077 – Backflow Prevention Devices Requirements
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill for its positive impact on taxpayers and alignment with fiscal responsibility. Sponsored by Sheila Lieder (D), Naquetta Ricks (D), and Dylan Roberts (D), the bill is currently in committee.
SB029 – Ranch Property Tax Clarifications
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill for its positive impact on taxpayers and alignment with fiscal responsibility. Sponsored by Byron Pelton (R), Dylan Roberts (D), Julie McCluskie (D), Cleave Simpson (R), and Matt Martinez (D), the bill is currently dead.
SB039 – Agricultural Buildings Exempt from Energy Use Requirements
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill for its positive impact on taxpayers and alignment with fiscal responsibility. Sponsored by Jeff Bridges (D), Byron Pelton (R), Matt Martinez (D), Janice Marchman (D), Dylan Roberts (D), Cleave Simpson (R), and Karen McCormick (D), the bill is currently in committee.
Bills Opposed by Colorado Union of Taxpayers in Legislative Session
HB1001 – Enforcement Wage Hour Laws
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. The Leeds School of Business at CU recently released a study showing that wage theft totals $700 million annually in Colorado, affecting one out of every five workers. This bill creates a new division to enforce wage laws and allows local governments to establish additional enforcement offices. CUT argues this bill increases bureaucracy unnecessarily. The bill, supported by Monica Duran (D), Meg Froelich (D), and Jessie Danielson (D), is currently in committee as of 01/30/2025.
HB1002 – Medical Necessity Determination Insurance Coverage
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This is a very complex bill that will raise costs across the board and result in increased insurance premiums for Coloradans. It complicates the process of determining medical necessity, reducing efficiency in healthcare services. The bill, supported by Kyle Brown (D), Lindsay Gilchrist (D), and Judith Amabile (D), is currently in committee as of 02/03/2025.
HB1004 – No Pricing Coordination Between Landlords
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. There is already an extensive body of federal and state anti-trust and unfair business practices law. The most troubling aspect of this bill is Section 2, b, I, which prohibits landlords from engaging consultants to survey and report competitive rental rates. CUT argues that this is no different than retailers or consumers using published data on product prices. The bill, supported by Javier Mabrey (D) and Steven Woodrow (D), is currently in committee as of 02/20/2025.
HB1006 – School District Solar Garden Lease Term
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. School districts should focus on education rather than property management. This bill diminishes the motivation to improve the public education system and confuses the purpose of school districts by involving them in solar energy projects. The bill, supported by Tony Hartsook (R), Meghan Lukens (D), and Jeff Bridges (D), is currently in committee as of 02/03/2025.
HB1008 – Complementary Behavioral Health Services in Jails
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT is concerned that there is no sunset clause and that “complementary services” is undefined, leaving room for unnecessary expansion of services. They argue that staff education should occur during regular meetings, with management trained once. The bill, supported by Mary Bradfield (R), Regina English (D), Lisa Cutter (D), Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D), and Judith Amabile (D), is currently in committee as of 01/21/2025.
HB1011 – Private Equity Acquisition of Child Care Centers
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. The restrictions on ownership and investment in childcare facilities will reduce the number of available centers and increase costs. The 60-day notice requirement for layoffs could damage employee morale, and ownership rules introduce contradictions that could complicate operations. The bill, supported by Lorena García (D), Emily Sirota (D), and Cathy Kipp (D), is currently in committee as of 02/04/2025.
HB1012 – Income Tax Expenditures for Service Members
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT argues that taxes are too high and should be lowered for all Coloradans rather than offering selective tax benefits. Using TABOR refunds to fund this bill undermines taxpayers’ rights. The bill, supported by Junie Joseph (D), Bob Marshall (D), Larry Liston (R), Lisa Frizell (R), and Michael Weissman (D), is currently in committee as of 01/28/2025.
HB1020 – Earned-Wage Access Service Provider
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This is another move to regulate businesses excessively and impose a $2,000 yearly licensing fee, which CUT views as unnecessary government overreach that will hinder economic growth. The bill, supported by Sean Camacho (D), Monica Duran (D), and Lisa Frizell (R), is currently in committee as of 01/30/2025.
HB1030 – Accessibility Standards in Building Codes
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. New buildings are already required to meet federal ADA guidelines. Adding further accessibility standards will increase construction costs without providing significant additional value. The bill, supported by Junie Joseph (D), Lisa Cutter (D), and Faith Winter (D), is currently in committee as of 02/03/2025.
HB1033 – Medicaid Third-Party Liability Payments
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. While the bill aligns with federal regulations, CUT argues that it interferes with providers’ ability to offer necessary care when reimbursement is uncertain. The bill also uses the safety clause inappropriately. The bill, supported by Lori Garcia Sander (R), Sheila Lieder (D), and Michael Weissman (D), is currently in committee as of 01/28/2025.
HB1037 – Income Tax Credit for Eligible Teachers
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT argues that taxes should be reduced across the board, rather than providing selective tax credits. They believe local issues such as classroom supplies should be addressed through local budget adjustments, not state-level tax credits. The bill, supported by Bob Marshall (D), Matt Soper (R), Lisa Frizell (R), and Kyle Mullica (D), is currently in committee as of 01/27/2025.
HB1039 – Commercial Vehicle Muffler Requirements
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. While engine brake noise can be objectionable, CUT believes that federal standards already address this issue adequately. They are concerned about excessive fines and potential overreach affecting out-of-state commercial vehicles. The bill, supported by Lesley Smith (D), Brianna Titone (D), Marc Catlin (R), and Dylan Roberts (D), is currently in committee as of 01/28/2025.
HB1045 – Modify Long-Term Care Insurance Income Tax Credit
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. While supporting individuals planning for their futures, CUT argues that lowering taxes broadly would be more effective than targeted tax credits. The bill, supported by Junie Joseph (D), Larry Liston (R), Lisa Frizell (R), Kyle Mullica (D), and Michael Weissman (D), is currently dead as of 01/27/2025.
HB1048 – State Tax Expenditure & Grant Database
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. While transparency is essential, CUT believes this bill encourages unnecessary state grant spending. They argue that the proposed $200,000 cost and additional full-time employees would increase bureaucracy without yielding proportional benefits. The bill, supported by Bob Marshall (D), Matt Soper (R), Kyle Mullica (D), Lisa Frizell (R), and Michael Weissman (D), is currently dead as of 01/27/2025.
HB1052 – Income Tax Credit for Public Employees’ Retirement Association Retirees
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT argues that broad tax reductions would benefit all taxpayers more equitably than selective credits targeting specific groups. They view this bill as another reduction in TABOR refunds, affecting all taxpayers. The bill, supported by Eliza Hamrick (D), Rick Taggart (R), Chris Kolker (D), Cathy Kipp (D), and Marc Snyder (D), is currently dead as of 01/27/2025.
HB1060 – Electronic Fence Detection Systems
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT believes this regulation falls outside the proper role of government, arguing that outdoor intrusion detection should be left to the free market. The bill, supported by Chad Clifford (D) and Matt Soper (R), is currently in committee as of 01/29/2025.
HB1061 – Community Schoolyards Grant Program
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT contends that schoolyard funding should come from local budgets rather than state grants. They argue that reducing administrative costs in schools would free up the necessary funds for such projects without additional taxpayer burdens. The bill, supported by Jennifer Bacon (D), Rick Taggart (R), Judith Amabile (D), and Barbara Kirkmeyer (R), is currently in committee as of 02/06/2025.
HB1064 – Prohibition on Cultivated Meat
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT believes in letting the free market regulate emerging industries like cultivated meat, viewing government intervention as unnecessary. The bill, supported by Ty Winter (R) and Rod Pelton (R), is currently dead as of 01/27/2025.
SB002 – Regional Building Codes for Factory-Built Structures
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT argues that factory-built structures are already adequately regulated by local and federal standards. They believe additional state-level regulations would unnecessarily increase housing costs and bureaucracy. The bill, supported by Jeff Bridges (D), Tony Exum (D), Andy Boesenecker (D), and Rebekah Stewart (D), is currently in committee as of 02/06/2025.
SB003 – Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT views this legislation as an infringement on Second Amendment rights and argues that it will not effectively address the issue of gun violence. They believe it targets law-abiding citizens rather than addressing the root causes of crime. The bill, supported by Julie Gonzales (D), Tom Sullivan (D), and Andrew Boesenecker (D), is currently in committee as of 02/07/2025.
SB006 – Investment Authority of State Treasurer for Affordable Housing
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT argues that subsidized housing represents economic redistribution and that government should not interfere in the private housing market. They also view this bill as an attack on TABOR, redistributing taxpayer refunds. The bill, supported by Dylan Roberts (D), Mary Bradfield (R), and Manny Rutinel (D), is currently in committee as of 02/04/2025.
SB013 – Senior Housing Income Tax Credit Extension
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT argues that selective tax relief is unfair and that taxes should be reduced across the board. They also criticize the use of the safety clause in this bill. The bill, supported by Kyle Mullica (D), Junie Joseph (D), Bob Marshall (D), Larry Liston (R), and Michael Weissman (D), is currently in committee as of 01/28/2025.
SB022 – Applying Artificial Intelligence to Fight Wildfire
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT believes that fire mitigation should focus on practical solutions like clearing brush and ensuring adequate water supplies, rather than relying heavily on expensive AI technology. The bill, supported by Mark Baisley (R), Janice Marchman (D), Andy Boesenecker (D), Ron Weinberg (R), and Tisha Mauro (D), is currently dead as of 01/29/2025.
SB040 – Future of Severance Taxes & Water Funding Task Force
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT argues that the elimination of the oil and gas industry in Colorado has already harmed the state’s economy. They believe that reviving these industries would generate the necessary severance tax revenues for water funding without new legislation. The bill, supported by Dylan Roberts (D), Cleave Simpson (R), Matt Martinez (D), Karen McCormick (D), Jeff Bridges (D), Janice Marchman (D), and Byron Pelton (R), is currently in committee as of 01/29/2025.
SB045 – Health-Care Payment System Analysis
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT views this bill as a precursor to state-run healthcare, which they believe would lead to increased spending and inefficiencies. They argue that past experiments with state healthcare systems have failed and that this bill would only promote similar unsuccessful policies. The bill, supported by Sonya Jaquez Lewis (D), Janice Marchman (D), Andy Boesenecker (D), and Karen McCormick (D), is currently in committee as of 01/30/2025.
SB049 – Continue Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT argues that discontinuing the Sunset Review process for this fee removes accountability and transparency. They believe the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program should be regularly reviewed to ensure it remains effective and justified. The bill, supported by Janice Marchman (D), Dylan Roberts (D), Matt Martinez (D), Ty Winter (R), Jeff Bridges (D), Byron Pelton (R), Cleave Simpson (R), and Karen McCormick (D), is currently in committee as of 01/29/2025.
SB052 – Railroad Investigative Report Confidentiality
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. While the bill includes some positive elements like required disclosure post-investigation, CUT is concerned that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) could bypass these requirements by indefinitely postponing investigations. Additionally, CUT criticizes the inappropriate use of the safety clause, arguing that it undermines transparency and accountability. The bill, supported by Nick Hinrichsen (D), Faith Winter (D), Mandy Lindsay (D), and Alex Valdez (D), is currently in committee as of 03/26/2025.