LEGISLATION

EDCC works with its members and a professional team of lobbyists to monitor activity in the Colorado legislature and initiative process that affect economic development.  The board also designates a legislative liaison to bring relevant bills to the Board for consideration of support or opposition.  Periodic surveys are utilized to determine membership support for specific bills.  W
eekly legislative updates are provided to members during the legislative session, as well as background information on certain bills.  Members are encouraged to make their local interests known and to be pro-active in the legislative, regulatory and administrative process at all levels of government.

View the EDCC Public Policy Guidelines Here

Proposition 101, Amendment 60, and Amendment 61
View PowerPoint Here

Enterprise Zones
Members of the EDCC Board of Directors contributed and wrote this white paper on the importance of Enterprise Zones in the State of Colorado.  Please review this document and share this important information to key individual in your community and/or region.

ENTERPRISE ZONES - CRITICAL TO COLORADO'S ECONOMY 

2010 Senate Committees
View Here

 

2009 Budget Documents

On December 14, 2009, Danny Tomlinson, Tomlinson and Associates and EDCC Parnter attended a meeting with the House and Senate GOP staff personnel on EZ's and tax credits. We would like to call attention to some of the tax credits and exemptions that are being discussed - specifically those on pages 8-22 the the budget document available below for you to download and view. We would like to request feedback from our members on these exemptions?

VIEW BUDGET DOCUMENTATION HERE

CACI Membership Survey

·         CACI did a membership survey this past summer on the importance of tax incentives and included most of our ED organizations.  I have attached a copy of the results of that survey that include quotes from several of our members.

·        CACI, C3, Colorado Concern and NFIB have asked for EDCC input on the various tax credits and exemptions being considered and any additional information that we might be able to provide concerning their relative importance in our economic development endeavors.  Not just a “that’s a bad idea”, but quantifiable anecdotal evidence, including business contact persons that would be willing to speak with media and to testify at the Legislature.

Please keep in mind that this is essentially a zero-sum game that we are in.  That is, Governor Ritter, through OSPB has presented a constitutionally mandated balanced budget request to the JBC for FY 2010-11.  Any changes to that request; ie, taking one or more of the tax credits out of consideration for reduction or elimination will require that a revenue enhancement from another source or appropriation reduction in another area will be required.

View Survey Results Here

 Thanks very much for the help – please let me know if you have questions.

 Danny L. Tomlinson

Tomlinson & Associates

Cell (303) 638-6509

www.lobbycolorado.com

EDCC Board of Directors - Action taken on 2009 Legislative Bills

The EDCC Board of Directors meets on a monthly basis and, as a part of our meetings, Danny Tomlinson with Tomlinson and Associates brings certain Legislative Bills to our attention for discussion and possible action.  Below you will find a list of the bills discussed thus far in the 2009 Legislative Session.

HB 09-1001, Concerning an Income Tax Credit for Colorado Job Growth.  The bill has now passed the full House of Representatives and the Senate Finance Committee.  It is awaiting committee hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  The EDCC Board has endorsed this bill.

HB 09-1010, Concerning Film Production in Colorado, passed from the House Finance Committee to the Appropriations Committee.  The EDCC Board has endorsed this bill.

HB 09-1035, Concerning Clean Tech Medical Device Tax Refund, has passed from the House Finance Committee to the Appropriations Committee. The EDCC Board has endorsed this bill.

HB 09-1105, Concerning Innovation Investment Tax Credit, passed from the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee and the House Finance Committee to the Appropriations Committee. The EDCC Board has endorsed this bill. 

SB 09-016, Concerning Measures to Encourage the Reforestation of Forest Areas Affected by Bark Beetle Infestation has passed the Senate on February 18 and has passed from the House Ag Committee to the House Finance Committee.  The EDCC Board has endorsed this bill.

SB 09-031, Concerning Clean Tech Research Grant Program  has passed the Senate and is awaiting hearing in the House Transportation and Energy Committee.  The EDCC Board has endorsed this bill.

SB 09-067, Concerning the Colorado Credit Reserve Program  has passed from the Senate Appropriations Committee. The EDCC Board has endorsed this bill.

SB 09-076, Concerning Employment and Training Technology has passed the Senate and is awaiting hearing in the House Finance Committee. The EDCC Board has endorsed this bill.

SB 09-085, Concerning the Phase-Out of Business Personal Property Tax has passed the Senate Finance Committee to the Appropriations Committee.  The EDCC Board will continue to monitor this bill and engage in dialogue with the proponents and opponents.

SB 09-162, Concerning a Project to Create an Inventory of Broadband Service Areas, has now passed the Senate and the House Business Affairs Committee.  The EDCC Board has endorsed this bill. 

SB 09-177, Concerning the Valuation of New Solar Energy Facilities for the Purpose of Property Taxation, has passed the Senate and is awaiting hearing in the House Transportation & Energy Committee.  The EDCC Board has endorsed this bill.

Please follow the link below to review the complete decription of the 2009 Colorado House and Senate Bills:

 2009 Colorado Legislative Bills

2008 Citizens Poll on Economic Development
View and Download Here