The Second Regular Session of the 73rd General Assembly concluded as of May 11th. There were 657 bills introduced this year, 418 by the House and 239 by the Senate. There were 143 bills Postponed Indefinitely or died on the calendar. Throughout the session GreenCO continued to weigh in on multiple pieces of legislation that effect both the industry and the business community as a whole.

GreenCO tracked over 50 bills that covered many different issues including, workforce development, employer mandates, water, and simplification of sales and use tax just to name a few. GreenCO took positions on multiple bills.

Now that the 2022 session is over, the interim looks to be a busy one. It will be filled with interim committees, rulemakings, as well as gearing up for the 2022 elections in November. It is anticipated to be an important election year as it is will be the first election since redistricting and the Republicans are looking to close the gap in the House and in the Senate. As usual, GreenCO will be conducting candidate interviews in August and deciding which candidates to support/endorse.

Below is a list of some of the high-level bills that GreenCO worked on during the session.

Hicks & Associates will be sending out a more comprehensive overview of the 2022 legislative session after the governor takes final action on all bills.

Current Legislation:

HB22-1138 Reduce Employee Single-occupancy Vehicle Trips: Concerning the creation of programs to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicle commuter trips by improving access to alternative transportation options.

Status: GreenCO took an OPPOSE position and worked with the business community to get it postponed indefinitely, as this bill would have been a mandate.

HB22-1151 Turf Replacement Program: Concerning measures to incentivize water-wise landscapes, and, in connection therewith, creating a state program to finance the voluntary replacement of irrigated turf.

Status: GreenCO took a MONITOR position. We met with the sponsors to discuss some of our concerns. As of press time, the bill is awaiting the signature of the Governor.

HB22-1152 Prohibit Employer Adverse Action Marijuana Use: Concerning limitations on the ability of an employer to take an adverse action against an employee based on the employee’s use of marijuana. This bill was postponed indefinitely.

Status: GreenCO took an OPPOSE position. We were able to get the bill postponed indefinitely in the first committee.

HB22-1355 Producer Responsibility Program for Recycling: Concerning the creation of the producer responsibility program for statewide recycling, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

Status: GreenCO took a MONITOR position.

We worked on multiple amendments to the bill including with the Ag. Community to get an Ag. exemption. As of press time, this bill is awaiting the signature of the Governor.

SB22-131 Protect Health of Pollinators and People: Concerning measures to improve pollinator habitats for the protection of the environment.

Status: GreenCO took an OPPOSE position and worked with larger coalition and had several GreenCO members come to the Capitol and testify against the legislation to get the bill postponed indefinitely in its first committee.

SB22-138 Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Colorado: Concerning the measures to promote reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in Colorado. This bill is still going through the process.

Status: GreenCO initially took an OPPOSE position to the bill, working with the Senate sponsor and getting the bill amended. GreenCO had a few members testify in support of the amendments. GreenCO moved to MONITOR, however, the bill died on the calendar.