Denver– Today, the 1st regular session of the 75th Colorado General Assembly began. Below is a transcript of Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen’s opening day speech.

“My friends, my colleagues, and honored guests…We gather today in this chamber, beneath the great gold dome of our state’s Capitol, at a pivotal moment—one of trembling and promise, of uncertainty and hope. It feels as though Colorado, and indeed our nation, is wrestling with its very soul. Who have we been? Who are we now? Who do we hope to become?

These questions are not abstractions; they are the heart of our work and the foundation of our calling here and now.

Colorado is a place of breathtaking beauty and boundless opportunity, a state blessed with a spirit as expansive as its mountains and as enduring as its plains. And yet, we are not immune to the struggles of this age. The divisions among us feel sharper, more personal. Technology, for all its wonders, connects us–and isolates us in equal measure. Trust—in our institutions, in each other—has frayed. And the economic anxieties of our citizens are real, tangible, and growing.

But this—this sacred chamber—is where we may meet those challenges. This is where we rise.

In recent years, our state has been burdened with policies that are, at best, heavy-handed and, at worst, suffocating. They wrap themselves around our economy, our communities, and our people like a wet blanket, stifling dreams, and snuffing out ambitions. They come in the form of regulations and fees and disguised taxes that may seem minor individually, but collectively, weigh heavily on the families we are here to serve.

We’ve all seen it, haven’t we? The family whose modest pay raise is devoured by the rising cost of living. The young couple saving for their first home, only to see affordability slip further from their grasp. The small business owner, capable and proud of their craft, and decent and mindful of their team, who finds their labor diminished by bureaucratic hurdles and hidden costs. These are not abstract concepts; they are the daily realities of too many Coloradans.

Leadership, my friends, is not about control. It is about trust. It is about listening. It is about empowering the people we serve to live their best lives—not as dictated by legislation, but as defined by their own hopes and dreams.

Yet, in this chamber, we have passed policies that overreach. Laws that, under the guise of “leading the way,” impose burdens with no discernible benefit. Policies that limit the choices people can make about how they live, how they travel, how they heat their homes or cook their meals. Policies that pile costs onto the backs of families and businesses while achieving no meaningful impact on the global issues they claim to address.

The argument for such policies often boils down to this: “We must demonstrate leadership.” But viewed through the eyes of the typical Colorado family, that leadership appears incoherent, intrusive, and costly—achieving nothing more than financial strain and frustration.

We must do better. We must connect the dots for Coloradans in a way that makes sense and provides relief.

Colorado families are crying out for help, and it is our duty to respond. This year, my caucus and I will propose a clear, direct, and meaningful path forward. We have identified over $4,500 in potential savings for every Colorado family—money that stays in their wallets, where it belongs.

Here’s how we do it:

First, we cut the idiotic, the wasteful, the inexplicable. A twenty-nine cent delivery fee here, a 10 cent plastic bag fee there—it adds up. These may seem small, but they are daily reminders to Coloradans that their government is nibbling away at their hard-earned money. Let’s end these nuisances and show respect for the hardworking people of this state.

Second, we tackle the onerous regulations that stifle growth and innovation. The very same pressures pinching the families of Colorado are squeezing the businesses that provide their jobs and fuel their communities. 

The Colorado Chamber of Commerce recently sounded the alarm, revealing that our state has become the sixth most regulated in the nation. Of the nearly 200,000 regulations on the books, a staggering 45% are excessive or duplicative. These aren’t just numbers—they are roadblocks on the path to growth and prosperity.

Once, Colorado stood tall as a beacon for business, ranked 11th among the best states to work and thrive. But we have slipped and today our cost of doing business has plummeted to a troubling 39th. These are not mere rankings; they are reflections of a less competitive environment, one where employers face uphill battles to survive and grow. And when businesses struggle, it is not abstract—it means no raises, smaller paychecks, or worse, lost jobs for hardworking Coloradans.

Between 2020 and 2023, Colorado’s private industries faced a 7.1% increase in business restrictions—a dramatic surge when you consider that federal regulations grew by just 1.3% in the same period. These aren’t just numbers on a page; they represent real challenges for the businesses, workers, and families of our state.

And the cost of these burdens is felt deeply. For every 10% increase in state regulations, Colorado loses an estimated 36,000 jobs and 9,000 firms. These are not faceless statistics. They are the local shops that close their doors– these are the folks you knew doing business in your neighborhood– the small manufacturers that downsize, the families that lose their livelihoods.

When we cut through the red tape, we don’t just help businesses—we create opportunities for workers, build stronger communities, and position Colorado as a beacon for entrepreneurs and investors. That’s the kind of Colorado we should be striving for. And that’s the kind of future regulatory reform can help us achieve.

This session let’s choose to “first do no harm.” We need stability in our regulatory environment. Nothing stifles investment and innovation like uncertainty. Let’s commit to consistency and simplicity, reviewing the rules already in place, keeping what works, and eliminating so much that doesn’t.

This isn’t about deregulation for the sake of it. It’s about something much deeper. It’s about freedom—the freedom to create, to innovate, and to dream big. It’s about opportunity. We can make sure every Coloradan has a fair shot at success. And it’s about responsibility. We must recognize that prosperity doesn’t come from government mandates but from the hard work, ingenuity, and determination of our people.

This struggling Colorado is not the Colorado we know and love. It is not the Colorado we should accept. We must restore our state to its rightful place as a land of opportunity—a place where businesses can flourish, jobs are abundant, and families thrive.

From housing to energy, transportation to childcare, and the day in day out basics of life in Colorado like going to the grocery store–we can and must roll back the burdens that make life less affordable and less free. Let’s be clear: Colorado’s affordability crisis is not just a talking point—it is a moral imperative. Housing costs are crippling. Energy bills are rising. Childcare is out of reach for too many families. These are real problems, and they demand real solutions.

This is not about politics; it is about people. It’s about the single mother who needs a little extra in her paycheck to buy groceries. It’s about the young family dreaming of a home but struggling with skyrocketing costs. It’s about the small business owner who wants to grow but is held back by excessive regulations.

So let us resolve, on this opening day of our session, to give Coloradans what they deserve: trust restored in their institutions, freedom to pursue their dreams, and cash back in their pockets.

To every family in Colorado, I say this: we must put you first this session.

And to my colleagues, I ask this: Will you join us? Will you join us in delivering at least forty-five hundred dollars in real relief to every Colorado family? Will you help us make Colorado affordable again? The time for action is now, and the people of this state are counting on us. Because leadership is not about grand speeches or sweeping gestures. Leadership is about doing the work, listening to the people, and building a future that is fair, free, and full of opportunity.

Let us roll up our sleeves. Let us act in a new way with courage and conviction. Let us give Colorado families reason to believe in us, in this chamber, and in their future.

Thank you, and may God bless Colorado. Let’s make this a year of action, of unity, of hope–and some extra dollars in the denims of the people of Colorado.”

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