CPCA 2019 Legislative Session Report

Click here to download and view the full legislative report.

2019 Legislative Session Report for Colorado Pest Control Association

The 2019 legislative session was widely reported on as being the most contentious and challenging in over a decade. An usually large class of first-year legislators (30 of the 100) as well as a new executive branch led to predictable growing pains and adjustments. In addition, Democratic leadership in both chambers expressed a desire to advance an ambitious legislative agenda – which was met with a variety of attempts to slow or stall bills on the part of Republican legislators.

Key Issues at the State Legislature

598 bills were introduced this year, of which 460 (77%) passed. This is noteworthy compared to the 60% of bills which passed through the legislature with divided control in 2018. While not all of the key Democratic-initiated proposals were successful, the legislative leaders did succeed in accomplishing a significant number of the goals they set for this session.

One of the primary areas of focus was local control, with several bills succeeding in (or attempting to) repeal state preemption. This tactic was seen in the areas of energy development, minimum wage, rent, and recycling/composting requirements for restaurant takeout containers.
Some of the legislation that garnered the most attention this session included:

SB 19-181: Protect Public Welfare Oil & Gas Operations
SB 19-188: FAMLI Family Medical Leave Insurance Program
HB 19-1262: State Funding for Full-Day Kindergarten
HB 19-1261: Climate Action Plan to Reduce Pollution

Bills of Interest to CPCA

Please click here for the full list of bills.

PASSED: HB 19-1328: Landlord and Tenant Duties Regarding Bed Bugs
This bill was CPCA’s top legislative priority for 2019.
PASSED: SB 19-186: Expand Agricultural Chemical Management Program
The idea for this bill originated under former Commissioner of Agriculture Don Brown.
PASSED: HB 19-1210: Local Government Minimum Wage
This bill, as introduced, struck down the state preemption against local governments enacting their own minimum wage.

Interim Committees

Newly Approved Committees:

Zero Waste and Recycling
Energy Legislation
Tax Expenditure Evaluations Prepared by the Office of the State Auditor
Investor-Owned Utility Choices
Higher Education Costs and Affordability
Prison Population

Previously Approved Committees:

Early Childhood and School Readiness
Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders
Pension Review
Sales and Use Tax Simplification
Transportation Legislation Review
Water Resources Review
Wildfire Matters Review

Media Summaries

Colorado Politics: 2019 General Assembly wrapup
Colorado Sun: Colorado’s 2019 legislative session was a doozy
Denver Post: Colorado Democrats deliver on major changes
Colorado Politics: A look at the 2018 Colorado General Assembly – in numbers
Colorado Politics: Republicans – No gavel, but their voice was heard at the Capitol
Denver Post: 18 ways the Colorado General Assembly just changed your life