January 19, 2018

Governmental Affairs Committee Update:
On Tuesday morning, after the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee received updates from the state capitol from Senator Ray Scott, Representative Dan Thurlow, and Representative Yeulin Willett, the committee took action on the following bills:
Chamber Supports:
• HB18-1034 Career and Technical Education Capital Grant Program
• HB18-1036 Reduce Business Personal Property Taxes
• HB18-1049 DHS Department of Human Services Authority to Lease Grand Junction Regional Center
Chamber Opposes:
• HB18-1043 Beef Country of Origin Recognition System 
Chamber is Monitoring:
• SB18-001 Transportation Infrastructure Funding 

If you have a bill you would like the committee to consider, contact darcy@gjchamber.org. 

The next legislative videoconference will be held on Tuesday, January 30 at 7:00 AM, at the Chamber in the lower level conference room. Click here to register online. Thank you to videoconference sponsor: Rocky Mountain Health Plans. 

State Attorney General Sends Letter Addressing Cole Memo:
Earlier this week, Colorado Attorney General, Cynthia Coffman, along with 18 other attorneys general from throughout the country sent a letter to Congress, imploring them to pass legislation to safeguard the marijuana industry and how they deal with financial institutions. The letter comes in the wake of Attorney Jeff Sessions decision to rescind the 2013 Cole Memorandum earlier this month. The marijuana industry is expected to bring in $21 million by the year 2021, but that money cannot be regulated or insured due to current federal banking laws. The letter asked Congress to pass measures, like the SAFE Banking Act, that seek to address this issue. For more information, click here. 

State of American Business:
Last week the U.S. Chamber of Commerce outlined their agenda for 2018, at their annual State of American Business. Some of their top priorities for the year ahead include passing a bipartisan infrastructure modernization bill, continuing the effort to revise or remove job killing regulations, as well as defending NAFTA and reiterating America’s leadership when it comes to open trade. For more on the U.S. Chamber’s 2018 outlook and goals, click here.

Catch the Bus!
Don’t miss your chance to meet with Colorado State Legislators at the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce’s 25th annual Legislative Days, on February 22nd-23rd. The trip provides members with a unique opportunity to have their voices heard by state lawmakers, as well as a chance to be informed on this legislative session’s upcoming agenda. Registration is $375, and includes transportation, meals and lodging. To reserve your spot today, click here, or call 970-263-2919.

We would like to thank our Legislative Trip Sponsors:
• Pinnacol Assurance 
• CenturyLink
• Brady Trucking Inc.
• Charter Spectrum Business Services
• United Companies