By Hicks & Associates
The First Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly began on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Opening day featured speeches from leadership in both the House and Senate. Following the recent election, there was one notable change in top leadership: Senator James Coleman, a Democrat from Denver, is the new Senate President. Both President Coleman and Speaker Julie McCluskie highlighted accomplishments from the previous session while laying out their priorities for the months ahead. Their speeches reflected strong alignment within the Democratic leadership in both chambers.
Key priorities included addressing the cost of living, managing a tight budget, improving workers’ rights and pay, public safety, school funding, healthcare, water, and environmental issues. A recurring theme in their speeches—and echoed by the Governor—was a commitment to ensuring Washington, D.C., does not interfere with Colorado’s progress and protecting the interests of all Coloradans.
Governor Polis delivered his State of the State address on January 9, 2025, where he expanded on these priorities. He emphasized the need to tackle Colorado’s housing challenges, calling for streamlined project approvals and reduced red tape—not just in construction but across all industries. Additionally, the Governor addressed the Labor Peace Act, a longstanding priority for Democratic lawmakers. While reiterating his stance against Colorado becoming a right-to-work state, he stressed that any changes must strike a balance by earning support from both the business community and labor organizations.
For more details, refer to the Governor’s press release on the State of the State address.
As the session ramps up, it will take a few weeks for SMART Act hearings and other procedural matters to unfold. However, over 120 bills have already been introduced. It’s essential for our members to stay engaged and ready to respond to legislation that could significantly impact our industry and the broader business community.
For a detailed overview of proposed legislation, please refer to the GreenCO Bill Tracker. As Senate President Coleman often says, “Let’s do this!”
