• AGC Advocacy Report

  • Michael Gifford, AGC Advocacy Director
    April 11, 2025

     
     

    Sign up for the weekly Advocacy Report newsletter by emailing Nicole (nicole@agccolorado.org)

  • State

    AGC Provides Input, Helps Maintain Critical CTE Funding in JBC Approved Long Bill
    AGC and Careers in Construction Colorado (CICC) have teamed up to help preserve $9.5M in state funding for high schools to support the Careers in Construction Colorado high school construction trades program across the state. Currently 83 high schools partner with CICC to provide a program with 3,900 students participating. High schools can receive up to $1,000 reimbursement per student participating through the Career Development Incentive Program or CDIP. As the state’s Joint Budget Committee (JBC) was cutting $1.1B from the FY 2025-26 budget, AGC & CICC kept pointing out the extremely positive results the program has achieved for students, along with other similar programs like health care. Now the budget goes to the full House and Senate for approval and AGC and CICC will continue advocating for CDIP funding to support high school CTE programs.
     
    AGC Provides Key Input to Draft CDE Bill on the "Big Three"
    The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is proposing big changes to how Career Technical Education (CTE) is funded and delivered by Colorado high schools. Based on our success working with Careers in Construction Colorado (CICC) to preserve FY25-26 CDIP funding of $9.5M for programs like our construction trades program in 83 high schools with 3,900 student participants, AGC and CICC have been providing key input into CDE’s draft bill for further CTE program consolidation and improvement. CDE is proposing to consolidate into just 3 programs (concurrent enrollment, industry recognized certificates, and work-based learning). CICC programs can fit into both industry recognized certificates (we use the HBI curriculum which is a nationally recognized pre-apprenticeship curriculum) and work-based learning (students build real structures like a house or tiny home plus do internships and other OTJ training). AGC and CICC will continue to work with CDE to help shape high school CTE programs that are both well-funded and focused on employer and student needs and measurable outcomes. Stay tuned as this draft likely gets introduced later in the legislative session.
     
    AGC & Coalition Continue Fight Against HB25-1300 Work Comp Doctors Choice
    Opposition coalition secures some amendments to the bill but is still in an Oppose position
    AGC Members have been involved for decades in the Workers Comp System of the state as employee safety & health, work comp costs and MOD rates are a big part of managing our construction businesses. HB25-1300 Workers’ Compensation Benefits Proof of Entitlement would significantly alter the work comp system by removing the 4-doctor designation and allow injured employees choose a doctor from the list of all Level I and II doctors (1,000+ doctors across the state) and shift the burden of proof from the employee to the employer on disputed medical procedures. Based on significant member requests to oppose this bill, AGC has led the development of a coalition of groups to oppose the bill. Click here for the coalition Opposition Sheet and 2-page Fact Sheet from Pinnacol Assurance.
     
    AGC and the coalition were able to secure several amendments to the bill, removing the burden of proof section, and limiting doctor choice to geographic areas versus the entire state, but were not able to preserve the current 4-doctor designation system. The bill was approved with the amendments in it’s first hearing by the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee, and was also approved by the full House on 2nd reading. The bill is awaiting 3rd reading in the House, and if it passes, it has to go to the Senate for action. Thank you to AGC members who sent 1,400 opposition emails to House Committee members, and to several members who came to the capitol to testify against the bill. AGC will continue to oppose the bill as it now heads to the Senate. Stay tuned as the bill moves through the rest of the process.
     
     
    AGC Advocates for More Changes to HB25-1272 Construction Defects
    AGC continues to stay engaged in discussions on HB25-1272 Construction Defects & Middle Market Housing. AGC is in an Amend position and collaborated with the Colorado Assn of Homebuilders and Housing Opportunities Now coalition (AGC is a board member of the coalition) to develop several key amendments that would improve the bill for developers and construction firms. Amendments focus on the warranty provision in the Multifamily Construction Incentive Program, and a requirement for the state to keep and report data on how many developers/contractors use the incentive program and how many condos are produced as a result of the bill. The bill was approved in the Senate Local Government & Housing Committee on April 10th and now goes to the full Senate for further action and additional possible amendments. Earlier this session AGC worked with others to kill HB25-1261 Consumers Construction Defects Action which was a bad for contractors Construction Defects bill. Stay tuned as HB25-1272 moves through the rest of the process.
     
    AGC CEO Receives Key National Updates at AGC America Convention
    AGC CEO Jeff Barratt attended the AGC America Convention this week in Ohio and received key national updates on hot topics like immigration and tariffs (info on both below), as well as updates on the AGC America PAC (Political Action Committee) and CAF (Construction Advocacy Fund). AGC Colorado is a top level contributor to the national PAC and CAF thanks to those members who contribute annually. In 2024 AGC Colorado helped elect 3 AGC PAC supported candidates to congress and also helped the CAF win a battle to stop former President Biden’s PLA mandate (among other wins).
     

    AGC Legislative Committee to Meet on April 15 to Review More 2025 Legislative Session Bills
    AGC Legislative Committee will meet on April 15 to review more 2025 legislative session bills and review status of previously viewed bills. One bill of note on the agenda is SB25-280 Data Center Development & Grid Modernization Act to incentivize more data center development in Colorado.
    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 April 15. 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 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 had another webinar on tariffs on February 27th, click here to register and view the recording.
     
    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.

  • Federal

    New Resource: AGC's Best Practices Checklist on Owner-Placed Builder's Risk Insurance
    AGC recently released another resource for construction professionals seeking to safeguard their projects and ensure successful outcomes: “Owner-Placed Builder’s Risk Insurance: What Construction Contractors Need to Know.”   - Read more
     
    Attend the TCC Fly-In and Advocate on Behalf of the Industry
    Registration is open for the 2025 Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Fly-In and AGC Legislative Caucus.  - Read more
     
    AGC Launches Buy America Resources
    AGC has launched a new Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) Resource Hub to help construction companies navigate federal domestic sourcing requirements.  - Read more
     
    Register Now for the Federal Contractors Conference, June 9-11 in Washington, D.C.
    Sign up to hear from legal experts about the latest federal regulations that will impact your business and to continue dialogue with federal agencies after the conference concludes.  - Read more