Capitol Close Up: May 20, 2025
2025 General Assembly Session Ends;
CAHB Joins Calls for Several Vetoes
The Colorado General Assembly concluded the first session of the 74th General Assembly on May 7. CAHB lobbyist Rachel Lee has provided an in-depth legislative recap—available by clicking here. Rachel’s document includes a review of GAC-position bills, other bills of interest to the state’s business climate, and the politics of the session.
A special thanks to GAC Chair Grace Covington for her leadership and to all GAC committee members who met regularly and provided insightful comments and feedback on dozens of bills so the GAC could take a position. Mary Kay Hogan and Rachel Lee, along with CEO Ted Leighty, met with legislators, provided testimony and collaborated with stakeholders from the construction and housing industries and the broader business community on several bills—including construction-litigation reform, single-stair, wage theft and other proposals that directly impacted our industry or the state’s business climate. Thank you to all CAHB members who helped support CAHB’s lobbying efforts and those who were able to testify in committee or meet with legislators.
The CAHB worked alongside several coalitions to extend its outreach on bills, including the Housing Options Now and Housing Equity for Colorado coalitions specifically on construction-litigation reform and our year-round partners Building Jobs for Colorado (BJ4C), Metro District Education Coalition (MDEC) and Colorado Real Estate Alliance (CREA).
The legislative wrap up includes updates on several key bills that the GAC and CAHB lobby team worked on during the session, as well as other key legislative areas including the state budget, property taxes, education and other issues. The following is an excerpt of Rachel’s report on core CAHB issues:
Potential Special Session in fall
It is possible the legislature could return in the fall for a special session. The special session would likely focus on changes in the federal budget on Medicaid and other entitlement programs that will then require changes to balance the state budget. Other policy topics could also be included, but at this time we don't anticipate anything housing or construction related.
CAHB Asking Gov. Polis to Veto 3 Bills
The GAC approved veto requests for three bills. Governor Polis already vetoed Senate Bill 25-005, legislation to change the Labor Peace Act. This legislation would have removed Colorado’s unique second vote to close a shop, which would have made it much easier to unionize and force membership and dues payments. The CAHB joined with more than a dozen business organizations in a Gazette op-ed (Coloradans Deserve Better Than SB 25-0050) that outlined the need for the veto.
The two other veto requests include:
HB25-1004—This bill will prohibit the use of any algorithm intended to be used by two or more landlords to set or recommend the amount of rent, level of occupancy or other commercial term for a rental unit and establishes that the use of nonpublic data in algorithmic device products or services is prohibited and punishable as an illegal restraint of trade or commerce under the Colorado State Antitrust Act.
HB25-1300—This legislation repeals the requirement that an employer provide a list of health care providers from which an injured worker may select to attend to an injury, and instead, requires that an employer or insurer notify the injured employee of the employee’s right to designate a treating physician. According to the veto letter co-signed by the CAHB, HB1300 will require employers to bear the burden of “additional costs related to the use of non-network physicians, increased potential for duplicative or conflicting care and the elimination of a state-directed premium credit that promotes seamless support for employees.”
GAC Changes Position on Senate Bill 25-002
The GAC approved switching from amend to support on SB25-002, Regional Building Codes for Factory-Built Structures. The legislation, a key housing initiative for Gov. Polis, directs the State Housing Board in the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) to develop regional building codes for factory-built structures. The department’s advisory committee on factory-built structures must present recommendations on the development of regional building codes and coordination between state and local permitting to the General Assembly during the 2026 legislative session and recommend regional building codes and implementation requirements to the housing board by July 1, 2026. The new regional building codes supersede local codes and other state code regulations when they apply to factory-built structures.
Mark Your Calendars: CAHB Summer Meetings Set for July 17 and 18 in Palisade
The CAHB will hold its upcoming quarterly meetings at the Wine Country Inn, 777 Grande River Drive, Palisade. Things will kick off with a member reception the evening of Thursday, July 17 at the Colterris Winery, 3907 N. River Rd., Palisade. Our quarterly meetings (PFC, GAC, and Board of Directors) will be Friday, July 18th at the Wine Country Inn. Email Corinne Burch at Corinne@hbacolorado.com for more information about the meetings and hotel accommodations.