• AGC Advocacy Report

  • Michael Gifford, AGC Advocacy Director
    February 7, 2025

     

     

  • State

    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 have another upcoming webinar on tariffs on February 27th, click here to register.
     
    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.
     
    AGC Legislative Committee Meets Feb 4 to Review More 2025 Legislative Session Bills
    AGC Legislative Committee met on Feb 4 to review more bills from the 2025 legislative session. The committee took the following positions:
     
    HB25-1021 Tax Incentives for Employee Owned Businesses SUPPORT
    HB25-1030 Accessibility Standards in Building Codes MONITOR
    HB25-1077 Backflow Prevention Devices Requirements SUPPORT
    HB25-1130 Labor Requirements for Government Construction Projects AMEND
    SB25-018 Online Search of Sales & Use Tax SUPPORT
    SB25-046 Local Government Tax Audit Confidentiality Standards SUPPORT
     
    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 Feb 18. 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 Advocates for Amendments on HB25-1001
    AGC represented the construction industry at the hearing on HB25-1001 Enforcement Wage Hour Laws commonly called the Wage Theft Bill. Last year’s bill focused solely on the construction industry, had upstream contractor liability for improperly paid wages, was opposed by AGC as the lead advocacy group, and was vetoed by Gov Polis. This year, the bill focuses on all industry, does not have upstream contractor liability, and AGC is in an Amend position focusing on just a few areas that need improvement. AGC is encouraging bill sponsors and proponents to conclude negotiations with the lead advocacy groups this year seeking amendments, including the Colorado Chamber, Denver Chamber, Colorado Competitive Council, and Colorado Restaurant Association. The bill passed out of it’s first committee on an 8-5 party line vote, and the plan is to add several amendments in the House Finance Committee before the bill advances to the floor. AGC is in support of this process. Stay tuned for a hopefully positive outcome on wage theft this year.
     
    AGC & Coalition Continue Fight Against SB25-005 Labor Peace Act
    AGC and other members of the Labor Peace Act coalition opposing SB25-005 Worker Protection Collective Bargaining (the bill that removes the 2nd election from the Labor Peace Act of 1943) continue to fight against the bill while also discussing a potential resolution with bill proponents.
     
    AGC has joined a coalition with the Denver Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Competitive Council (C3), Colorado Contractors Association, Colorado Restaurant Association, Colorado Concern and other organizations to oppose this bill in the 2025 legislative session.
     
    The business coalition opposing this bill did secure a meeting last week with bill sponsors and the proponents (AFL-CIO) to discuss how to solve the two sides' impasse on the bill. Several options are being discussed but to date, no compromise has been reached.
     
    The business coalition is following up on it's successful poll, where we found 70% of Colorado voters not favoring the removal of the second vote, with a social media campaign giving voice to voters who do not want union dues or agency fees deducted from their paychecks without their permission.
     
    State senate and house democrats are running SB25-005 (with support from the AFL-CIO) to remove the second vote feature in Colorado’s Labor Peace Act of 1943. Colorado is unique as the only state that has a hybrid set of rules for union formation by employees. In 22 states a simple majority vote of a company’s employees form a union and compels all employees to join the union and pay union dues. Those are called union states. In 27 states, even though a majority of employees who vote choose to form a union, it is illegal to require individual employees to join the union and pay dues. Those states are called right-to-work. Colorado has a hybrid system, where if the majority of employees voting agree to form the union, then they have to have a 2nd vote of 75% approval by the employees to require all employees to pay dues. The Labor Peace Act has served Colorado well since 1943, protecting individual employee rights to association, and encouraging major employers to consider Colorado as a place to relocate or expand their businesses. SB25-005 Worker Protection Collective Bargaining removes the 2nd vote and makes Colorado the 23rd Union State.
     
     
    AGC Meets with BJ4C Coalition to Address Construction Industry Concerns
    AGC is a member of the BuildingJobs4Colorado Coalition (Design and Construction associations) and met with the coalition this week to address several industry concerns, including current state legislative bills, state & local energy efficiency policy and regulations, and a successful energy choice ballot measure in Washington state that stopped state & local government from outlawing natural gas as an energy source in residential and commercial buildings.

  • Federal

    AGC Releases Tariff Resource Center for Contractors
    With additional tariffs being placed on China in February 2025, and possible new tariffs ahead for Mexican and Canadian imports in March of 2025, AGC has developed a resource center for contractors navigating tariff challenges. - Read more
     
    More Judges Halt President Trump's Funding Freeze
    Court orders put up a roadblock to White House plans to review all federal spending. - Read more
     
    Trump DOT Embeds Priorities in Discretionary Grants
    On January 29, 2025, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signed an order emphasizing the agency’s commitment to grounding its policies, grants, and loans in sound economic principles and analysis supported by cost-benefit requirements and data-driven decision making.  - Read more
     
    Lee Zeldin Sworn in as New EPA Administrator
    On January 29, Lee Zeldin’s nomination process concluded with a 56-42 vote confirming his appointment as the 17th administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  - Read more
     
    Next Steps on AGC's Big Win Challenging the Federal PLA-Mandate
    AGC recently celebrated a big win for AGC members working for the federal government in the case MVL USA Inc. vs. USA.  - Read more