The Colorado Senate Republicans welcome Governor Polis’s recent actions to address some limited regulatory issues by eliminating obsolete executive orders. While we appreciate his political theater, the actual outcome is a very small step in the right direction. It falls a country mile from the comprehensive reform Colorado needs to relieve businesses and families from the crushing weight of overregulation.
Colorado did not become one of the most heavily regulated states in the nation by accident. Since taking office, Governor Polis has signed into law numerous laws that have expanded the number and breadth of regulations that impose significant burdens on businesses and drain resources from hardworking Coloradans.
A partial list of bills (each required expansion of regulations) signed into law by Governor Polis:
- Senate Bill 19-181, expanded the authority of the executive branch to regulate Colorado’s energy industry.
- House Bill 22-1244, expands government by adding more regulations related to air quality.
- House Bill 22-1362, imposed regulations on the construction of new housing, thus keeping the cost of housing high.
- House Bill 23-1224, increased the cost of healthcare.
- House Bill 23-1120, disincentivized developers from investing in Colorado’s rental industry by creating burdensome regulations.
- Senate Bill 23- 172, places unreasonably high burdens on employers, and ignores protections already in place for employees.
- House Bill 23-1294, expanded government by creating a committee to address ozone.
- House Bill 24-1098, increased the cost of operating a rental property, thus increasing the cost of housing.
- House Bill 24-1346, increased the executive branch’s authority to regulate the energy industry.
The Governor’s willingness to revisit some of his executive orders is a very small step in the right direction. We urge him to take more substantial action to reduce the expansive regulatory framework that has grown during his tenure. Cutting regulations is essential to restoring prosperity and opportunity for all Coloradans.
We remain ready to work with Governor Polis to enact broad substantive policy changes that prioritize freedom, economic growth, and opportunity. Let’s move forward together to create a regulatory environment that supports rather than stifles Colorado’s success.