We have reached the halfway point of the 2014 Session of the Colorado General Assembly. To date, 489 bills and resolutions have been introduced, and 35 have completed the process. Most who are engaged in the legislative process state that to this point it has been a relatively quiet session - unlike last year, which was full of hot-button issues such as gun control, civil unions and mandated renewable energy standards that led to numerous late-night hearings and frayed nerves on both sides of the political aisle. The fact that we are in an "even-numbered" year - which means an election cycle come November - is most routinely cited as the reason for a more moderate approach to issues currently under debate beneath the gold dome.
That said, there are a handful or more measures expected to be introduced in the coming weeks - some we support and others we likely will oppose - that will make the next 60 days key on how we will judge the outcome of this legislative session.
Included in that list are items we support - such as the ballot integrity bill we have mentioned previously. Additionally, Colorado Concern has been working with other business associations and industry groups, along with the Metro Mayors Caucus and affordable housing advocates, to craft a solution focused on addressing a lack of multifamily, for-sale development (condominiums). Current state law is crafted in such a fashion that class action litigation over construction defects is the norm, not the exception. As a result, the costs of condominiums rise out of the reach of many entry-level buyers - including young families with children. And that's if the condominiums are built at all. Realtors report that they know there are condo buyers looking for properties - and can't find them. This is a market that the developers would like to serve, but simply cannot shoulder the risk.
Today, most multifamily projects being built are for-rent properties. This segment serves an important purpose, but creates a vacuum for a segment of our community that seeks a more urban-style living environment. We would prefer that the market - not the legal environment - shape Colorado's housing inventory, and we believe there are reasonable common sense remedies to open the door to attainable housing for Coloradans.
On the other side of the coin - measures we likely would oppose - we still believe it is possible that a proposal to make changes in the worker's compensation system will be introduced. Three areas of modification have been suggested. Click here to review a previous column on those items.
Meanwhile, tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. we have lunch with Governor John Hickenlooper at the Carriage House at the Boettcher Mansion. I know we are all interested to hear what our state's chief executive thinks of the session so far, his expectation of the next several months before the final gavel drops, and his thoughts about the ballot issues currently under consideration for voter review in November. We look forward to seeing you there. If you have not registered but would like to join us, a few seats opened up late last week. Contact Paige at [email protected] to sign up.
Should you have questions about any of the items outlined above, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].