ALCC has announced its legislative priorities for 2016. You can follow the development of these issues in real time at www.coloradocapitolwatch.com. The priorities are:

Water 

• Support funding and innovation of Colorado water needs to include conservation, water infrastructure, reuse, and storage, (See GreenCO White Paper). Make water funding a major priority in Colorado.   
• Review Interim Committee bills for 2016 session to include possible Rain Barrel Bill.   
• Support sustainable water conservation principles for both indoor and outdoor use to include industry Best Management Practices (BMPs). GreenCO’s BMPs are supported by the state as the standard for outdoor water.    
• Oppose water legislation that is anti-growth.    
• Continue work on state water plan to ensure GreenCO principles are included for conservation, land use planning and possible regulatory legislation.

Pesticide Regulatory Legislation

• Oppose any measure to allow for local control when applying pesticides.
• Oppose non-research based arbitrary bans on pesticides. 
• Closely monitor and oppose any effort to expand pesticide regulatory burden.

Construction Defects

• Support legislation that provides more protection for contractors during any construction defect litigation. Colorado’s current process has increased the liability to the construction industry far above a reasonable level.  

Construction Retainage Reform

• Continue efforts to find policy solutions to construction retainage issues with public agencies.

• Oppose the ballot issue # 20, Colorado Care, establishes a single payer health system in Colorado.

• Continue work on legislation to simplify Colorado Sales Tax- Coalition effort.
• Continue to work with DOR on sales/use tax policy decisions concerning construction operations.
• Review and monitor Pinnacol bill for interstate operation.
• Oppose changes to the state workers’ compensation program that would diminish the effectiveness or efficiency of the current system   
• Support efforts to limit regulatory burden and create no new mandates for business    
• Support the creation of tax credit/incentive for BPPT for small businesses to phase out or eliminate the fiscal impact of this regressive tax on Business.

Investment in Colorado Infrastructure

• Support investing in Colorado’s infrastructure.  From buildings, roads and bridges, and water projects, monetary investment will help create jobs and save the state millions of dollars in the future. 

• Support funding for transportation thru prioritization of new and existing revenues to stated needs. Support maintenance/replacement of roads and bridges 

• Support a more uniform set of definitions and single point of payment in regards to the state’s sales and use tax. 

• Fund vocational and adult education programs for the skilled trades and technical career paths that are drastically understaffed in Colorado’s workforce.