Is Colorado too tough on businesses?
Companies say cutting regulations would help economy
Businesses are complaining that Colorado puts too many restrictions on them, leading them to consider moving their operations to other states.
The Colorado Chamber of Commerce put out a report last week saying nearly 100 companies had left the state since 2019, taking nearly 14,000 jobs with them. This week, a pro-business coalition called Ensuring Colorado’s Innovation Future asked state authorities to reduce regulations, which they claim stifle growth.
Lawmakers are taking note. On Monday, the state Senate unanimously advanced a bill backed by the Chamber that would require agencies to review regulations every five years, and eliminate or modify those that aren’t working.
But the business perspective is only one side of the story. Regulations meant to protect workers and prevent harmful conduct are not the only reason companies may look to other states. Businesses have also cited Colorado’s sky-high child care costs and skilled worker shortages as obstacles to their operations.
Need to Know
🤖 AI chatbots could face stricter regulations aimed at protecting Colorado users from emotional harm under a bill that recently passed an initial step of the lawmaking process. A lawsuit filed last week is challenging a previously passed Colorado law protecting people from discrimination by AI in financial, employment and educational decisions. (Colorado Politics, Colorado Newsline, read the bill, read the lawsuit)
♿ People with disabilities are facing public transit service cuts as the Regional Transportation District (RTD) seeks to balance a budget deficit linked to high maintenance costs and low ridership. The agency is also considering measures including land sales and fare hikes to make up its budget gap. RTD’s top executive recently announced she will leave her job next year. (Denver Post, Denver Gazette)
🍃 Marijuana regulators said they will crack down illegal sales of products sourced from hemp rather than marijuana. The state’s marijuana enforcement division issued a bulletin Monday saying some companies are putting the public at risk by misrepresenting the origin of purported marijuana products. The agency also said a pattern of tax avoidance in the industry is sapping revenues from state and local governments. (Denver Gazette/ProPublica, read the bulletin)
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Something Good
🐔 I got dinner last night from one of my favorite restaurants in Lakewood, an Asian-fusion fried chicken place called Kickin’ Chicken. My go-to order is the chicken and waffle (spicy) with a side of Vietnamese slaw – but literally everything on the menu is excellent. They also have a location in Aurora.