My first week back from holiday started in Denver at the Business Legislative Preview hosted by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Colorado Competitive Council (C3). As Vice Chair of the C3 Chamber Steering Committee, I had the tremendous opportunity to welcome business and legislative leaders to the sold-out event.

Denver Metro Chamber and EDC released their 2025 Toward a More Competitive Colorado Report (https://lnkd.in/gfnwnUtQ) before the event and utilized the data to drive a great conversation with the 2025 Legislative Leadership.

Sadly, the report identifies that we are losing competitive ground on several issues in Colorado – Housing Affordability (there is none), Cost of Living (keeps going up), Home Grown Talent (our graduation rates as a state are scary), and Infrastructure (not enough money and the money we have is going into products that are not being used).

It was great to have legislative leadership share their thoughts on priorities that they see as the focus of the 2025 Legislative Session. There was deep conversation (and my own observations) about:

• Changes to the Labor Peace Act (what problem are we trying to solve?)
• The $700M gap in the budget (a chance to realign priorities or the opportunity to increase fees that citizens end up paying – $8,442 in fees is paid annually by a Colorado citizen)
• Incentives to attract business to Colorado (yes, please)
• Affordability – across the board (hello Construction Defect reform)
• Regulatory Reform to save business from a death by a thousand cuts- which the Governor has already started (hallelujah!) and
• Civility (big fan!)

I invite all of my business friends to pay close attention to this legislative session. I know you all have full-time plus day jobs, but the decisions made by 101 people in Denver can make or break your business.

One of the first bills to be introduced in the 2025 Legislative Session is focused on making changes to the 80-year-old Labor Peace Act. Colorado is unique in requiring a second election of workers to determine how dues to a union are paid. With a 75% approval rating, unions can require that all employees pay dues, whether a worker wants to participate in the union or not. Possible changes would remove the second vote or decrease the approval rating percentage. During the conversation on January 7, many legislators said they want to hear from businesses and workers. I invite you to track the bill, share your thoughts with your legislator, and be involved.

Are you energized and wondering where to go for information and activation? The Fort Collins Area Chamber is a founding member (alongside the Greeley and Loveland Chambers and UpState Colorado) of the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance that has been protecting business at the capitol for 32 years with the goal of enhancing the business climate for the future success of Northern Colorado. Check us out at NCLA.biz. And my friends at C3 are amazing. Learn more about them coloradocompetes.org.

Keep an eye on my blog and other Chamber communications to learn more about key issues and how you can be impactful.