COHB1141 – Gift Card & Retail Property Crime Penalties
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. This bill mandates a prison sentence for burglary, robbery, or theft from a store when the offender has prior convictions and adds gift cards to the offenses of theft and forgery. Retail theft has run rampant in this state due to lack of enforcement. This bill should help deter would-be criminals and take them off the streets. This would help reduce the cost of business and costs consumers pay for goods.
Sponsors: Brandi Bradley (R)*, John Carson (R)*, Carlos Barron (R)*, Mary Bradfield (R)*, Max Brooks (R)*, Jarvis Caldwell (R)*, Ken Degraaf (R)*, Lori Garcia Sander (R)*, Tony Hartsook (R)*, Rebecca Keltie (R)*, Chris Richardson (R)*, Matt Soper (R)*, Ty Winter (R)*, Dan Woog (R)*
Bill Status: Dead
COHB1164 – Constitutional Carry of Handgun
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. This bill makes several substantial changes to requirements for carrying a handgun. This bill is consistent regarding our 2nd Amendment rights in the US Constitution and, by simplification of the state law, reduces both State expenditures and FTEs.
Sponsors: Ron Weinberg (R)*, Ryan Armagost (R)*, Carlos Barron (R)*, Scott Bottoms (R)*, Mary Bradfield (R)*, Brandi Bradley (R)*, Max Brooks (R)*, Jarvis Caldwell (R)*, Lori Garcia Sander (R)*, Ryan Gonzalez (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)*, Ty Winter (R)*, Dan Woog (R)*
Bill Status: Dead
COHB1226 – Health Care Review Interim Committee Billing Study
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. This bill directs the Health Care Interim Committee to begin looking into late medical billings. Providers often delay sending out bills for services rendered, which is odd. But those delays create issues for consumer patients, who receive invoices so far in arrears, that they may have trouble remembering the service, or even the provider. We think it is good that providers know someone is looking at this.
Sponsors: Dusty Johnson (R)*, Scott Bright (R)*, Amy Paschal (D)*, Kyle Mullica (D)*, Kyle Brown (D)
Bill Status: In Committee
COSB047 – Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. This bill repeals existing local ordinances which prohibit or inhibit cooperation with Federal Immigration Authorities. The bill permits, and in some cases requires, law enforcement to notify ICE when they have in custody a person believed to be in the country illegally. We have seen large increases in violent crimes, overrun medical facilities, drug overdose deaths, and school crowding as a result of unchecked illegal immigration. This bill is long overdue.
Sponsors: Mark Baisley (R)*, Max Brooks (R)*, Chris Richardson (R)*
Bill Status: Dead
COSB106 – Reduce Property Taxes
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. This bill would reduce property taxes for all property owners. CUT supports this bill as it would provide much-needed relief to taxpayers. Property taxes are a significant burden for many Coloradans, and this bill would help to alleviate that burden.
Sponsors: Perry Will (R)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COSB135 – Colorado Government Efficiency Authority
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. This bill appears to be modeled on the DOGE concept in the federal government. DOGE has rapidly identified many wasteful, fraudulent and dubious expenditures. State government has grown enormously in recent years. There are undoubtedly significant savings to be had.
Sponsors: Larry Liston (R)*, Barbara Kirkmeyer (R)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COSB144 – State Income Tax Standard Deduction
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. This bill increases the standard deduction for state income tax returns by $500 for single filers and $1,000 for joint filers. Any reduction in taxes is a good thing.
Sponsors: Jeff Bridges (D)*, Faith Winter (D)*, Jenny Willford (D)*, Yara Zokaie (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COSB153 – Public School Financial Reporting Requirements
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports this bill. The CUT board is mixed on their position regarding this bill. The majority of the board supports it because we appreciate transparency in finances. We would also request transparency on the number of children at each school whose families are here illegally so that we have a real understanding of the cost for hard-working Coloradans and our education system.
Sponsors: Chris Kolker (D)*, Lorena García (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1050 – Regional County Jail Approach
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill exempts a county from the requirement to operate a county jail if it has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with another county to operate a multijurisdictional county jail. The CUT Board majority voted NO, questioning the need for additional legislation in order to have this cooperative action among counties, and we find the Safety Clause to be totally inappropriate. If the sponsors would remove the Safety Clause, CUT would support this legislation as it appears to reduce total jail costs in rural areas.
Sponsors: Lorena García (D)*, Judith Amabile (D)*, Jennifer Bacon (D), Kyle Brown (D), Chad Clifford (D), Monica Duran (D), Mandy Lindsay (D), Bob Marshall (D), Julie McCluskie (D), Tammy Story (D), Elizabeth Velasco (D), Matt Ball (D), James Coleman (D), Lindsey Daugherty (D), Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D), Dylan Roberts (D), Michael Weissman (D)
Bill Status: Crossed Over
COHB1099 – Water Quality Data Standards
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill directs the Department of Public Health and Environment to adopt standards for the total amount of pollutants in state waters. While we all want clean water, the expenditure of $282,960 a year just to issue the “recommendations,” i.e., paperwork, seems excessive. There must be federal clean water standards available, and water testing should take place within existing budgets. The State doesn’t have extra money to spend.
Sponsors: Tisha Mauro (D)*, Rick Taggart (R)*, Nick Hinrichsen (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1108 – Prohibitions in Rental Agreements Due to Death
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill prohibits certain clauses in residential rental agreements from being enforced when the tenant or responsible party dies. The State should not be meddling in private contracts. The property owner should be able to recover that part of the damage deposit needed to accomplish any repairs.
Sponsors: Javier Mabrey (D)*, Ron Weinberg (R)*, Jeff Bridges (D)*, Barbara Kirkmeyer (R)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1123 – Homeowners’ Association Alternative Dispute Resolution
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill requires certain dispute resolution procedures for homeowner associations. It is NOT the proper role of government to insert itself into a private contractual relationship. It may contradict existing HOA charters agreed to by members of these associations. The use of the Safety Clause is inappropriate; this is not an emergency situation.
Sponsors: Junie Joseph (D)*, Naquetta Ricks (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1139 – Income Tax Credit for Eligible Veterans
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill creates a refundable state income tax credit for veterans with a disability, equal to a percentage of the property tax paid on the veteran’s primary residence. While we appreciate the sacrifice of disabled vets, tax policy should be applied equally to all taxpayers. Lower property taxes for all taxpayers. And why should we increase government size by 7 FTEs to lower taxes?
Sponsors: Rebecca Keltie (R)*
Bill Status: Dead
COHB1156 – Make Senior Home Tax Valuation Reduction Permanent
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill reduces property taxes beginning with property tax year 2027 by continuing the qualified-senior primary residence real property classification and the associated assessed value reductions created in Senate Bill 24-111 indefinitely. The inflation of home prices with the associated increase in assessed value and property taxes is a concern for ALL Colorado property owners. Property tax relief should go to ALL taxpayers.
Sponsors: Sheila Lieder (D)*, Chris Kolker (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1163 – Free Access to State Parks for Colorado Ute Tribes
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill allows Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute tribe members to access state parks without having to pay a fee. CUT opposes any special interest tax or fee treatment. All demographic groups should be subject to the same fees and taxes.
Sponsors: Katie Stewart (D)*, Rick Taggart (R)*, Dylan Roberts (D)*, Cleave Simpson (R)*, Andrew Boesenecker (D)*, Monica Duran (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1165 – Geologic Storage Enterprise & Geothermal Resources
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT members are divided but with the majority opposing this bill. The bill creates a geologic storage stewardship enterprise in the department of natural resources for carbon capture sequestration and ground water sourced geothermal energy. This bill covers two topics and therefore there should be two separate bills: one dealing with underground carbon sequestration and the other dealing with ground water sourced heat pump systems. The proposed commission is mostly independent of the state yet having the authority to issue bonds (presumably obligating the state in case of default). The fees may not be adequate to cover costs. Lastly, the whole concept of underground carbon sequestration is predicated on a climate crisis, which is not settled science. The technology is extremely expensive, often making power plants run at a loss without subsidies. Additionally, carbon capture and storage projects rarely see success, with many failing to materialize due to the high costs involved. For instance, the Petra Nova coal plant in Texas, once seen as a success story, closed after underperforming.
Sponsors: Amy Paschal (D)*, Matt Soper (R)*, Cathy Kipp (D)*, Cleave Simpson (R)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1170 – Lobbying by Nonprofit Entities
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. The bill creates a new category of “nonprofit lobbyist” and exempts these lobbyists from the registration requirements for professional lobbyists if certain conditions are met. First, the Safety Clause. Why do we need a privileged class of “non-profit lobbyists” so urgently that this bill should bypass voter scrutiny? All lobbyists should be treated the same. Second, this is a large sum of money just to create a new classification. Third, not all non-profits should be construed to operate for the benefit of the public. Most in this category will likely be promoting political agendas. Think Sixteen Thirty Fund, Arabella Advisors, etc. Let them register like other lobbyists. Fourth, this is a First Amendment issue and should be soundly rejected for that reason. Why should an individual who supports a cause be tagged as a lobbyist?
Sponsors: Andrew Boesenecker (D)*, Eliza Hamrick (D)*, Faith Winter (D)*, Mary Bradfield (R)*, Junie Joseph (D)*, Brianna Titone (D)*, Janice Marchman (D)*, Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1174 – Reimbursement Requirements for Health Insurers
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT members are divided but with the majority opposing this bill. The bill sets the reimbursement rates that a health insurance carrier (carrier) may reimburse a health-care provider (provider) for covered services for the state employee group benefit plans (state group benefit plans) and for small employer group benefit plans (small group plans). The bill seeks to set pricing on health provider fees reimbursed by Insurance Carriers. Ultimately this will drive private health insurance out of the state and stop providers from providing care for this group. Pricing is not the proper role of government. “The bill allocates $500,000 from the calculated savings to a health care reimbursement feasibility study cash fund created in the bill and authorizes the state department to use the money to conduct the study.” So, state funding will be used to develop and promote the system the sponsors want. The bill uses the Safety Clause for a matter which in no way could be construed as an emergency for which the citizens would be barred from challenging in referendum.
Sponsors: Kyle Brown (D)*, Emily Sirota (D)*, Jeff Bridges (D)*, Iman Jodeh (D)*, Jennifer Bacon (D)*, Andrew Boesenecker (D)*, Chad Clifford (D)*, Lorena García (D)*, Lindsay Gilchrist (D)*, Eliza Hamrick (D)*, Mandy Lindsay (D)*, Matt Martinez (D)*, Karen McCormick (D)*, Manny Rutinel (D)*, Tammy Story (D)*, Elizabeth Velasco (D)*, Jenny Willford (D)*, Yara Zokaie (D)*, Judith Amabile (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1177 – Utility Economic Development Rate Tariff Adjustments
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT members are divided but with the majority opposing this bill. The bill updates requirements for the Public Utilities Commission to regulate economic development rates. This bill would “encourage business expansion and economic development” and is probably designed to allow Xcel to entice data center customers. But previous legislation makes this a risky gamble. The state’s electrical consumption is projected to far exceed expected production (by about 40%) during critical winter times when the state is under mandated 100-percent renewable sources in 2040. Increasing the limits of reward for large usage customers only accelerates the arrival of the shortfalls. Use of the Safety Clause is completely unjustified. This law is not urgent. Citizens should be able to challenge this by referendum.
Sponsors: Tisha Mauro (D)*, Nick Hinrichsen (D)*, Byron Pelton (R)*, Shannon Bird (D)*, Matt Martinez (D)*, Dylan Roberts (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1189 – Motor Vehicle Registration Reform & Fees
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. The bill increases revenue to local governments by increasing certain titling and registration fees and having the additional revenue go to county clerks. CUT members are divided but with the majority opposing this bill. With the huge registration costs we already pay, it is hard to believe that the counties are not collecting enough to meet their costs. In the fiscal notes, there isn’t any substantiation of a need for higher fees. Perhaps if the county clerks were not busy issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens there would be enough revenue. This continues the legislature’s tradition of subterfuge: calling a tax a fee.
Sponsors: Tisha Mauro (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1196 – Landlord Procedures for Removal of Tenants
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT members are divided but with the majority opposing this bill. The bill prohibits landlords from terminating a lease or evicting a tenant solely because a tenant fails to pay one or more late fees. This bill seeks to prevent a landlord from issuing a demand letter or evicting a tenant for failure to pay late fees (if the tenant has been late in paying due rent). Removing the risk or threat of an added late fee encourages renters to always pay their rent late. Late rental payments put the landlord at financial risk. This is a property rights issue, and a private matter, not the proper role of government. Laws like this are part of the reason for the state’s housing shortage.
Sponsors: Jacqueline Phillips (D)*, Dan Woog (R)*, Carlos Barron (R)*, Shannon Bird (D)*
Bill Status: Dead
COHB1205 – Implement Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plans
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT members are evenly divided between those opposing this bill and those not rating it. This bill clarifies the legal status and operations of the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan Association in Colorado. It seems the original law was severely flawed. Perhaps if the legislature proposed fewer bills, they could take greater care in authorship. FAIR appears to be a reasonable thing but seems to be a private trade association. The state government should not have been involved in setting it up. Instead, this bill should be re-written to remove it from state statutes. Use of the Safety Clause is a stretch which creates the impression of concealing an embarrassment.
Sponsors: Kyle Brown (D)*, Julie McCluskie (D)*, Judith Amabile (D)*, Dylan Roberts (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1208 – Local Governments Tip Offsets for Tipped Employees
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT members are divided but with the majority opposing this bill. The bill modifies the state tip offset for employees that work in local areas that have established a minimum wage more than the state minimum wage. This bill is a confusing, unnecessary mess. It is complicated because governments are trying to interfere with each other and interfere with the private enterprise system. Minimum wage laws only serve to increase unemployment and to increase costs for businesses. This will create all kinds of paperwork headaches in the service industry, already reeling from the pandemic and existing minimum wage laws. Government has no business dictating terms of private agreements. Using the Safety Clause is just an arrogant way to say voters cannot have a say in this matter.
Sponsors: Alex Valdez (D)*, Steven Woodrow (D)*, Judith Amabile (D)*, Ryan Armagost (R)*, Shannon Bird (D)*, Andrew Boesenecker (D)*, William Lindstedt (D)*, Tisha Mauro (D)*, Chris Richardson (R)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1211 – Tap Fees Imposed by Special Districts
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. CUT members are divided but with the majority opposing this bill. The bill places limitations on tap fees charged by the board of a sanitation district, water and sanitation district, or water district. This bill is outside of the proper role of government. The state is not a water utility. While water usage minimization is commendable, the provisions in the bill give no assurance of less usage. The cost of the tap to the customer is a one-time fixed fee, so a lower tap fee produces no incentive for lower usage. At present, water utilities may incentivize lesser consumption by charging lower rates.
Sponsors: Sheila Lieder (D)*, Rebekah Stewart (D)*, Jeff Bridges (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1220 – Regulation of Medical Nutrition Therapy
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. The bill seeks to regulate dieticians and require evidence of academic training and licensing. We wonder if the bill was brought forth by established players, seeking to protect their granola bowl. In any event, consumers can do just fine without PBIs (Politicians, Bureaucrats, and Interested Parties) telling them who to consult on nutrition. And the track record of government in protecting health is not exactly stellar.
Sponsors: Tony Hartsook (R)*, Karen McCormick (D)*, Kyle Mullica (D)*, Byron Pelton (R)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1223 – Capital Needs of Rural and Frontier Hospitals
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill creates yet another task force to study the capital structure of rural hospitals. No funding is provided, but expenses are to be borne by Gifts, Grants, & Donations, which CUT recognizes as a Big Red Flag. Those GGD go into a cash fund, where transparency in spending may or may not be present. And even if meritorious, it is ridiculous to punctuate this bill with the Safety Clause. No public safety is at issue…only the ability of citizens to challenge the bill which legislators seek to preclude. There are many examples of new hospitals already in place in rural Colorado, without more state spending. And besides, a 2017 bill which gave us the hidden Hospital Provider Fee was supposed to fix this.
Sponsors: Dusty Johnson (R)*, Meghan Lukens (D)*, Rod Pelton (R)*, Dylan Roberts (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1224 – Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act Modifications
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This very confusing bill seeks to modify existing law regarding unclaimed property. Modifications include reducing the time a property has no visible interest from the owner before being declared ‘abandoned.’ And it meddles with pre-need funeral arrangements and cryptocurrency. Crypto owners will be permanently barred from any claim if their crypto is deemed ‘abandoned,’ and the currency is liquidated, and proceeds go to the state. And the bill includes the Safety Clause with no readily apparent connection to public safety.
Sponsors: Matt Soper (R)*, Brianna Titone (D)*, Marc Snyder (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1225 – Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. No one in CUT finds voter intimidation to be acceptable, and we loudly object to any such effort. But this bill starts out as merely unnecessary, and at our first glance, we were inclined to not rate the bill. But a key provision moves us to oppose the bill. Most crimes require intent, and this bill removes proof or evidence of intent to intimidate. An offended party need only assert that they perceived intimidation or threat and this bill would trigger prosecution. Unacceptable. And speaking of unacceptable…there is the Safety Clause again.
Sponsors: Steven Woodrow (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1233 – Veterans Benefits Claims Consumer Protections
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill seeks to place caps on compensation for agents assisting veterans in their claims for benefits, mostly related to disability. And the bill requires those agents to make it very clear that they are not affiliated with the government. Their arrangements with the veteran must be in writing and clearly spell out terms. So, what is wrong with that? Nothing at all, and we like the sentiment of the bill. But the bill is very heavy-handed in fines for violations, and none of the fine money goes to the veteran…only to the state. Perhaps sponsors would like to amend this with less onerous fines?
Sponsors: Michael Carter (D)*, Chris Richardson (R)*, Nick Hinrichsen (D)*, Ryan Armagost (R)*, Rebecca Keltie (R)*, Tom Sullivan (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1238 – Gun Show Requirements
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. The bill repeals and reenacts existing law related to gun shows. And it includes some sensible elements, e.g., liability insurance. But the ban on anyone under 21 is indefensible. The bill ought to be renamed “Restraint of Trade for Products We Don’t Like Act.” Parents may wish to expose their teenagers to guns and shooting. We have 18–21-year-olds serving in military and law enforcement. And the Safety Clause here only proves that sponsors do not want to give the public the chance to vote on this.
Sponsors: Sean Camacho (D)*, Junie Joseph (D)*, Cathy Kipp (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1240 – Protections for Tenants with Housing Subsidies
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill seeks added protections for rental tenants who use housing vouchers in part or in full to make their monthly rental payments to landlords. In our opinion, the bill greatly imbalances the scales in favor of the tenant. Landlords must work with any/all applicants presenting housing vouchers. The maximum late fee for monthly rent is $20.00, which is scant little incentive to pay on time. And there can be no eviction for non-payment of late fees. For all intents and purposes, late fees are eliminated. The $5,000 fine to the landlord for violations seems heavy-handed. And the inclusion of the Safety Clause here is offensive.
Sponsors: Meg Froelich (D)*, Junie Joseph (D)*, Faith Winter (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COHB1244 – Welcome, Reception, & Integration Grant Program
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill seeks to expand an existing program which awards money to NGOs for assisting migrants with language training, job searches, and navigation of the state’s financial assistance programs. The bill changes the requirement for the immigrant to have arrived within the past year to have arrived within the last 3 years. These are people who have come here illegally and are clogging our hospitals and schools. And so, it seems imprudent to encourage such behavior. And there is no one’s safety at issue, so the Safety Clause is wholly inappropriate.
Sponsors: Lorena García (D)*, Elizabeth Velasco (D)*, Lisa Cutter (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COSB077 – Modifications to Colorado Open Records Act
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. The bill makes it longer to get requested docs for regular citizens and gives preferential treatment for paid journalists and reporters. We need true CORA reform such as HB25-1242 brought forward by both left and right govt watchdog coalitions.
Sponsors: Cathy Kipp (D)*, Janice Rich (R)*, Michael Carter (D)*, Matt Soper (R)*, James Coleman (D), Julie Gonzales (D), Iman Jodeh (D), Tom Sullivan (D)
Bill Status: Crossed Over
COSB120 – Nuclear Workforce Development & Education Program
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) does not have a stated position on this bill.
Sponsors: Larry Liston (R)*, Janice Marchman (D)*, Matt Soper (R)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COSB163 – Battery Stewardship Programs
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. Battery disposal may well be a problem worthy of attention. But this bill is entirely punitive and will result in higher costs for our state’s residents. Working with manufacturers and suppliers may yield a better path forward.
Sponsors: Lisa Cutter (D)*, Kyle Brown (D)*, Rebekah Stewart (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
COSB101 – Colorado Works Program Eligibility
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) opposes this bill. This bill makes changes to the Colorado Works program, which provides assistance to families with children. CUT is opposed to this bill as it expands the time a person can receive benefits. The bill also makes changes to the income threshold for eligibility, which will likely result in more people receiving benefits. CUT believes that welfare programs should be a temporary safety net, not a long-term solution.
Sponsors: Julie Gonzales (D)*, Lisa Cutter (D)*
Bill Status: In Committee
