• AGC Advocacy Report

  • Michael Gifford, AGC Advocacy Director
    April 25, 2025

     
     

    Sign up for the weekly Advocacy Report newsletter by emailing Nicole (nicole@agccolorado.org)

  • State

    AGC Helps Lead Effort on SB25-018 Online Search of Sales & Use Tax
    AGC is a member of the Simplify Colorado Sales & Use Tax Coalition and Advocacy Director Michael Gifford is a Board member of the group. On April 21 Gifford was one of only 2 people that testified in support of SB25-018 Online Search of Sales & Use Tax. The bill was approved unanimously by the House Finance Committee and continues through the process. The bill directs the CO Dept of Revenue to adjust it’s online search tool to allow for searches by company name versus searches only by sales & use tax certificate number (a very inefficient process). The change should greatly increase efficiency for businesses, including contractors, trying to look up other businesses for sales & use tax credits and transactions.

    AGC & Coalition Continue Fight Against HB25-1300 Work Comp Doctors Choice
    Opposition coalition secures 2 additional amendments but can't stop the labor supported bill in Senate Business & Labor Committee
     
    AGC Members have been involved for decades in the Workers Comp System of the state as employee safety & health, work comp costs and MOD rates are a big part of managing our construction businesses. HB25-1300 Workers’ Compensation Benefits Proof of Entitlement would significantly worsen the work comp system by removing the 4-doctor designation and allow injured employees to choose a doctor from the list of all Level I and II doctors (1,200 doctors across the state). Based on significant member requests to oppose this bill, AGC has led the development of a coalition of groups to oppose the bill. Click here for the coalition Opposition Sheet and 2-page Fact Sheet from Pinnacol Assurance.
     
    On April 24, the bill was presented in the Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee. AGC and the coalition had an impressive line-up of groups testifying in an opposition position, including school districts, cities, counties, numerous private businesses, Pinnacol Assurance, and the state’s Work Comp Division within the CO Dept of Labor & Employment. Despite this significant opposition, the bill was approved by the committee on a party-line vote with 4 democrats voting yes and 3 republicans voting no. The opposition coalition did secure 2 amendments- including one to reduce the timeframe when injured employees can change doctors during treatment. 
     
    AGC and the coalition were previously able to secure 2 amendments to the bill, removing the burden of proof section, and limiting doctor choice to geographic areas versus the entire state. The bill now has to go to the full Senate for action. If it is approved there, it has to go back to the House for concurrence with Senate Amendments. Thank you to AGC members who sent 1,400 opposition emails to House Committee members, and another 721 emails to the Senate Committee. AGC will continue to oppose the bill as it now heads to the floor. Stay tuned as the bill moves through the rest of the process.
     
     
    AGC Continues Active Monitor Position on SB25-280 Data Center Development & Grid Modernization Act
    The AGC Legislative Committee met on April 15 and took an active Monitor position on SB25-280 Data Center Development & Grid Modernization Act. While AGC supports Data Center Development, the bill had a number of rumored amendments in it’s first committee on April 16, so AGC took a wait and see approach. Just before the hearing, AGC was able to verify that a permission to use a Project Labor Agreement in-lieu of apprenticeship utilization and prevailing wage was not included in the bill. The bill did pass out of the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee on a 6-3 bi-partisan vote, and advances to the Appropriations committee for further action. At the AGC Board Meeting on April 23, the Board directed the Advocacy team to stay in an Active Monitor position. The bill does face significant opposition from environmental groups, and significant amend position pressure from utilities and other groups.
     
    AGC Provides Key Input to Draft CDE Bill on the “Big Three”
    This week AGC continued to provide significant input to how Career Technical Education (CTE) is funded and delivered by Colorado high schools. Based on our success working with Careers in Construction Colorado (CICC) to deliver 83 high school programs with 3,900 student participants, AGC and CICC have been providing key input into CDE’s draft bill for further CTE program consolidation and improvement. CDE is proposing to consolidate into just 3 programs (concurrent enrollment, industry recognized certificates, and work-based learning). CICC programs can fit into both industry recognized certificates (we use the HBI curriculum which is a nationally recognized pre-apprenticeship curriculum) and work-based learning (students build real structures like a house or tiny home plus do internships and other OTJ training). This week AGC and CICC were able to preserve $5M in CTE funding in the draft Big Three PWR (postsecondary workforce readiness) bill for 2025-26, and $14M for FY26-27. Stay tuned as this draft bill gets introduced near the end of the legislative session.
     
    AGC Legislative Committee to Meet on May 6 to Review More 2025 Legislative Session Bills
    The AGC Legislative Committee will meet on May 6 to review any final 2025 legislative session bills and review status on previously reviewed bills.
     
    There are 50 members of the AGC Legislative Committee and all member firms are eligible to have a representative on the committee. The next meeting is May 6. To check it out or join the committee email Nicole at the AGC office at nicole@agccolorado.org.
     

    AGC Bill Tracker
    For a complete list of AGC bill positions see our handy dandy AGC Bill Tracker
    For questions contact Michael Gifford at mgifford@agccolorado.org
     
    AGC Tariff Resource Center for Contractors
    AGC has created an AGC Tariff Resource Center for Contractors. There are helpful resources, like a tariff memo as well as a recording of a webinar on tariffs. We also have documents that have been released by the White House and other sources. Keep checking back as we will update this site as more is available. We also had another webinar on tariffs on February 27th, click here to register and view the recording.
     
    How Employers Can Prepare for DHS/ICE Raids & Ensure Compliance with Immigration Laws
    AGC has a new webinar on how employers can prepare for DHS/ICE raids & ensure compliance with immigration laws on Thursday, Feb 25th. AGC has also partnered with AGC Member Fisher Phillips to provide a free 1-page guide for members on how to respond to an ICE immigration visit or jobsite raid. Fisher Phillips also has a more comprehensive packet available for a fee. Contact Fisher Phillips for more information.

  • Federal

    AGC Wins on FHWA Greenhouse Gas Rule
    Trump administration rescinds rule that would have diverted state highway funds, intended to fix roads and bridges, to non-construction activities. - Read More
     
    AGC Highlights Highway Work Zone Safety
    AGC addresses the importance of driver awareness near highway work zones amidst an increase in fatalities and injuries. - Read more.
     
    AGC Urges Trump Administration to Resolve Legal Flaws with 2023 WOTUS Rule
    AGC asks the administration to align the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency.  - Read more
     
    The Oval Office and Beyond: Inside the Executive Branch
    Given the complexity of the process, especially during a change in administration, AGC offers a series of information on the executive branch and its primary functions. Members should understand that deregulatory changes only take effect after executive orders are backed by regulatory action, a process that usually takes 12-18 months.*  - Read more
     
    Prevent a Massive Tax Increase for Construction
    Without action from Congress and the White House, most construction companies will face a 20% tax increase in 2026 as key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire.  - Read more
     
    Register Now for the Federal Contractors Conference, June 9-11 in Washington, D.C.
    Sign up to hear from legal experts about the latest federal regulations that will impact your business and to continue dialogue with federal agencies after the conference concludes.  - Read more