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In This Issue
Colorado State Capitol

Join us May14 for our state legislative session wrap-up Membership Networking Lunch co-hosted by Barry Hirschfeld and John Ikard.

 Click here 

for details and to register.

___________________________

Colorado Concern Board of Directors

Blair Richardson

(Chairman)

Tamra Ward

(President and CEO)

Steve Farber

Tim Gill

Pat Hamill

A. Barry Hirschfeld 

Bill Hybl

John Ikard

Walter Isenberg

David McReynolds

Larry A. Mizel 

Chip Rimer

Dan Ritchie 

Rick Sapkin

Sylvia Young 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Tamra Ward

It's that time of year:  Hurry up and wait.  Thirteen working days remain in this legislative session of the Colorado General Assembly.  More than 600 bills and resolutions have been introduced in the House and the Senate, and many of those measures remain in play.  Colorado law requires that any bill introduced receives a hearing in the chamber of origin, so many late nights - and likely frayed tempers - will occur between now and the final gavel dropping by midnight May 6th.

 

This time of year you also see more vividly the intersection of policy and politics. That is certainly the case for two key measures of interest to Colorado Concern: HB15-1057 - Concerning the process for a statewide initiative to be based on the ballot (Court-DelGrosso) and SB15-177 - Concerning prerequisites to the authority of a unit owners' association to pursue resolution of disputes involving construction defects (Scheffel-Ulibarri).  Both these measures are at the mercy of the leadership of the House of Representatives, and both measures appear to have the votes for passage should they receive a full and fair hearing and proceed to the floor of that chamber for action.

 

You will recall HB15-1057 is all about providing more information to Colorado citizens as they consider signing a petition that could lead to a measure being placed on the November statewide ballot. The bill calls for a preliminary fiscal note to be added to the petition document utilized by circulators so you have an idea of the cost, and/or benefit of the proposal.  This process is utilized with every bill debated by the General Assembly, as well as any measure it considers to refer to voters.  As the old saying goes, "If it's good for the goose, it's good for the gander."   Who could be against transparency and good government?  It appears this is where the far left and the far right meet.  As it relates to the State House, some key constituencies most often aligned with the Democratic Party - organized labor and environmental organizations, for example - dislike the approach.  For that reason the bill remains in limbo.  Some say it is based on a concern that fiscal transparency around the impact of banning hydraulic fracturing in Colorado would limit the ability of proponents of such an effort to secure ballot placement for a measure in 2016.   We say, regardless of the issue, voters deserve all the information available to assist them in making thoughtful decisions.

 

SB15-177, the construction defects measure, passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 24 -11.  Six Democrats joined with all Republicans in adopting the measure last week.  The Speaker of the House is on the record noting her concerns with the proposal, which include a dislike of arbitration as a remedy to construction disputes. This is a position also held by many trial lawyers who sue builders and developers. The Homeownership Opportunity Allianceof which Colorado Concern is a member, is simply asking that the measure be provided a full and fair hearing, in a committee of appropriate jurisdiction.  Last week the group took its plea to the public with a targeted media and advocacy campaign.  You can add your voice to the effort by clicking the links below to sign a petition in support of a fair hearing, or a link to send a message directly to key legislators.

 

Petition: http://housing4co.org/petition_1.asp?g=HOA&id=91814

 

Action Alert:  http://housing4co.org/issue_alert.asp?g=hoa&issue=FairHearing_SB177&parent=HOA

 

Stay tuned for updates as it relates to what transpires with this critical measure focused on re-starting construction in the multifamily, for-sale product arena.

 

Colorado Concern will be focused full throttle on these measures between now and the end of the legislative session.  Should you have questions regarding these bills, or any other measure, please do not hesitate to contact me at tamra@coloradoconcern.com.

 

Warmly,

Tamra

Tamra

COLORADO CONCERN LEGISLATIVE TRACKING

Click here to find out what legislation Colorado Concern is tracking. The report includes links to bill text, sponsors, Colorado Concern's positions, bill status, and additional notes.

 

Click here to download the Colorado Concern At a Glance Status Sheet for quick tracking of Colorado Concern's bills of interest.
Colorado Concern Upcoming Events

Below is information on upcoming Colorado Concern events.  

Click here for more information or to register to attend events.

 

Thursday, May 14: Colorado Concern Membership Networking Lunch and State Legislative Session Wrap-Up Co-Hosted by Barry Hirschfeld and John Ikard

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Colorado Concern, 140 East 19th Avenue, Suite 400


 

Tuesday, June 23: Colorado Concern Membership Networking Breakfast Co-Hosted by Steve Farber and Sylvia Young

7:30 to 9:00 a.m., Colorado Concern, 140 East 19th Avenue, Suite 400
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

 

Kelly Brough

Successful Denver businesswomen dish out advice at Mentoring Monday

Denver Business Journal: April 13

Features Kelly Brough

 

Richard Scharf

 Visit Denver hires Las Vegas executive as communications director

Denver Business Journal: April 14

Features Richard Scharf


 

CSU Global awarded top honors for its online program

Denver Business Journal: April 20

Features Becky Takeda-Tinker

Colorado Concern News Clips

Budget/TABOR

Gov. Hickenlooper asks lawmakers to overhaul state spending, TABOR refunds

Denver Post: April 17

 

Development/Real Estate

State could contribute $250M for CSU's role in National Western Center

The Denver Post: April 13

 

Future gets brighter for condo-defects reform in Colorado

Denver Business Journal: April 13

 

Aurora rents zoomed up faster than any other U.S. city in March

Denver Post: April 13

 

Colorado's retail real estate picks up; office and industrial steady

Denver Business Journal: April 13

 

Colorado's construction-defects reform backers launch ad campaign

Denver Business Journal: April 14

 

State may help pay for $856M stock show redevelopment (Slideshow)

Denver Business Journal: April 14

 

Urban-renewal reform returns to Legislature, meeting business opposition

Denver Business Journal: April 15

 

Editorial: Level the field for urban renewal

Denver Post: April 15

 

Colorado urban-renewal reform advances with bipartisan support

Denver Business Journal: April 16

 

Colorado foreclosures up in March, but state's still in middle of the pack

Denver Business Journal: April 17

 

Economy/Economic Development

Colorado venture financing drops in first quarter

Denver Post: April 17

 

Education

School districts looking to support popular dual-language programs

Denver Post: April 13

 

House committee endorses "pay for success" bill

Chalkbeat: April 15

 

Charter school bill to further expand Denver's school choice record

Watchdog: April 16

 

Elections/Politics

Historic shakeup at Colorado GOP ushers in Steve House era

Denver Post: April 13

 

Denver election: What to know about voting as ballots go out Monday

Denver Post: April 13

 

Denver City Council District 10: Five candidates vie to serve district of contrasts

The Denver Post: April 14

 

Denver City Council District 11: Far-northeast district fights disconnection, seeks opportunity

Denver Post: April 15

 

Colorado eyes ballot question to collect from corporate tax havens

The Denver Post: April 15

 

Bill seeks more revenue from Colorado companies using offshore tax havens (Video)

Denver Business Journal: April 15

 

Corporate welfare or workforce development? Debate rages at Colorado Capitol as bills advance

Denver Business Journal: April 17

 

Energy

Colorado's big coal-burning utilities take a turn to renewable energy

Denver Post: April 13

 

Editorial: Ban on oil exports should be lifted

Denver Post: April 13

 

Noble gets a $7.8 million reduction in its 2012 Weld County tax bill

Denver Post: April 14

 

ConocoPhillips reportedly plans to sell U.S. non-core assets

Denver Business Journal: April 14

 

Policy group calls for another Colorado oil, gas task force

Denver Post: April 16

 

Fracking dispute laps at Legislature; sentencing reform provokes controversy

KVNO News: April 16

 

Colorado wind-industry jobs rise on turbine orders

Denver Post: April 16

 

Colo. congressman pulls back from direct role in anti-fracking fight

Environment & Energy Publishing: April 17

 

Colorado oil and gas companies go downtown

Denver Business Journal: April 17

 

General Business

Colorado grocers, liquor store owners brace for venue battle

Aurora Sentinel: April13

 

Colorado's data-centers tax break still alive, student-loan repayment tax break dead

Denver Business Journal: April 13

 

Hickenlooper signs equity-crowdfunding law to let anyone invest locally

Denver Post: April 14

 

Senate Bill 232 would jeopardize our western Colorado way of life

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: April 17

 

Health Care

Veterans Affairs says it has money for troubled Aurora hospital

Denver Post: April 14

 

Colorado health exchange approves $5 million for tech fixes, mulls fee hikes

Denver Post: April 14

 

VA was warned that Aurora hospital could face huge cost overruns

Denver Post: April 15

 

VA: Extra building needed at troubled Aurora veterans hospital

Denver Post: April 16

 

Colorado health insurance exchange's overseers beef up scrutiny

Denver Post: April 16

 

Colorado strengthens vaccination rules, adding exemption requirements

Denver Post: April 16

 

More on the cover story: Colorado legislator seeks to limit payment collections by out-of-network doctors

Denver Business Journal: April 17

 

Are Colorado's narrowing health care networks restrictive or cost effective?

Denver Business Journal: April 17

 

Colorado health insurance exchange loses CEO finalist after long hunt

The Denver Post: April 18

 

Immigration

Colorado's immigrant driver's program to be offered at 3 offices in June

Denver Post: April 15

 

Labor/Employment

Minimum-wage bill dies amid protests across Denver, country

Denver Business Journal: April 16

 

Colorado Will Help You Get A Job ... If You Choose The Right One

Daily Caller: April 18

 

Marijuana

Report: More than 15 months in, pot-infused edibles still confound

Denver Post: April 13

 

Recreational pot sales set record of $39.2 million in February

Denver Post: April 13

 

More Coloradans approve of pot than a year ago, poll shows

Denver Business Journal: April 14

 

The state can't protect us from ourselves

Boulder Weekly: April 16

 

Steadman: Bill will provide marijuana, TABOR fix

The Colorado Statesman: April 17

 

Tax

Editorial: A closer look at tax deductions

Denver Post: April 13

 

Colorado's in the top 10 for taxpayer ROI

Denver Business Journal: April 14

 

Transportation

RTD's Phil Washington, bound for big L.A. job, talks about Denver's next big challenge

Denver Business Journal: April 13

 

RTD board full of discord, dissent

Denver Post: April 15

 

CDOT's statewide Bustang service to start July 13

Denver Post: April 16

 

EXCLUSIVE: Bill to raise $3.5 billion for highways coming to Colorado Legislature

Denver Business Journal: April 17

 

Plan to widen I-25 sooner heads to lawmakers

The Coloradoan: April 17

 

Hickenlooper asks for budgetary move to ensure Colorado roads funding

Denver Journal: 17