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Date: 12/3/2020
Subject: Special Legislative Session Results
From: Andrea Wilkins, Legislative Liaison, LWVCO



League Updates
REPORT ON THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE COLORADO LEGISLATURE
Andrea Wilkins, Legislative Liaison, League of Women Voters of Colorado
 
A special session of the 72nd General Assembly convened on Monday, November 30 and adjourned on Wednesday, December 2.  The General Assembly came together just over a month prior to the start of the 2021 session to address urgent needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding economic crisis.   Money to support the relief package was possible as a result of the state having more tax revenue than was initially expected.  

In total, 35 bills and resolutions were considered with 10 ultimately passing and awaiting signature by the Governor. These bills, totaling approximately $300 million in spending, will take effect upon his signature.  The majority of the measures that passed (seven) did so with bi-partisan support. 

Legislation was aimed at providing relief in eight key areas: 
Small business aid
Sales tax relief
Child care support
Housing and direct rental assistance
Expansion of broadband access
Food pantry assistance
Utilities assistance
Public health response

A summary of the bills follows below.

House Bill 1001 provides $20 million to create a broadband grant program for school districts to expand Internet access. Money must be distributed by Feb. 1.

House Bill 1002 authorizes $45 million in grants to child care centers through two programs. One provides support to existing providers who are struggling as a result of the pandemic to help with expenses and the other will support providers that are expanding or just beginning operations. The state must award grants by Feb. 28.

House Bill 1003 provides $5 million to food pantries.   The state must distribute the money by March 31.

House Bill 1004 allows restaurants and bars to deduct $70,000 of net sales from their taxes, retaining approximately $2,000 per month in sales tax revenue for each retailer, up to a limit of five sites. The bill allows the sales tax retention for November through February.

House Bill 1005 gives authority to counties and municipalities to cap fees that third-party food delivery companies charge to restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation also prevents those companies from cutting the compensation or tips of employees to recover lost revenue and requires that customers be made aware of any fees imposed on restaurants.

House Bill 1006 adjusts requirements of insurance premium tax payments in order to make estimated tax payments more accurate. 

Senate Bill 1 provides $37 million to support small businesses with revenue of less than $2.5 million, $7.5 million to arts and cultural organizations, and $4 million to minority-owned businesses. Grants for small businesses are capped at $7,000.  Counties must disburse funds by Feb. 12.

Senate Bill 2 provides $54 million in emergency housing assistance, $1 million in legal eviction aid, and $5 million to individuals who are ineligible for other forms of relief, such as unemployment insurance, food assistance or the onetime $1,200 payment from the federal government.

Senate Bill 3 provides $5 million to Energy Outreach Colorado to help low income households pay energy bills. This money must be spent by June 30.

Senate Bill 4 transfers $100 million to the Controlled Maintenance Trust Fund for the governor to use for the Disaster Emergency Fund. The bill is intended to fill the gap left by the slow reimbursement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for costs the state has incurred.

Additional information on the bills that were passed, including legislator vote tallies, can be accessed here.

Information on bills that were considered but postponed indefinitely can be accessed here.

The LWVCO Legislative Action Committee will begin virtual meetings on a bi-weekly basis starting January 8, 2021.  The 2021 Session will convene on Wednesday, January 13.
 
If you're interested in joining the Legislative Action Committee, LWVCO's corps of trained volunteer lobbyists, please contact the LWVCO office at info@lwvcolorado.org.


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