The Colorado General Assembly began its 2026 session on January 14. Michael Smith, State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), held a virtual event to discuss what small business owners in Colorado might expect from this legislative period and outlined the organization’s top concerns.
“I would love to get your feedback on any of these issues and how they impact your businesses,” Smith said. “When I’m talking to legislators and testifying at committees, it’s great to have personal stories from our members on how these legislative proposals would impact you and your operations. That’s very powerful.”
Among the priorities for NFIB is supporting legislation that would eliminate credit card swipe fees on sales tax and tips. Last year, the group backed a bipartisan bill aiming to exclude these charges from interchange fees, which can range from 1.5% to 3.5% per transaction. NFIB plans to continue supporting similar measures intended to ease financial pressures on small businesses.
Another focus is safeguarding Colorado’s new Right to Repair law, which took effect January 1, 2026. The law allows consumers more freedom in choosing repair services for electronics rather than being limited to authorized dealers or manufacturers—a measure previously supported by NFIB. This year, some lawmakers may seek changes that would remove ‘critical infrastructure’ from the law’s coverage. NFIB has stated it will monitor such proposals and work with legislators to maintain current protections.
Additionally, NFIB intends to defend the Labor Peace Act against proposed amendments that would change union formation requirements. Currently, forming a union requires two elections: a simple majority in the first round and a 75% threshold in the second—allowing unions to set dues for non-members if successful. Efforts last year to change this process were opposed by NFIB and vetoed by the Governor; similar efforts are expected again this session.
NFIB also anticipates renewed attempts at introducing state-level regulations similar to those enforced by OSHA through Colorado’s Department of Labor—measures they argue could add compliance burdens for small businesses.
NFIB encourages direct advocacy from its members during this legislative session: “Direct advocacy in Denver, along with the help of our members who actively reach out and voice their concerns with lawmakers, makes a big difference! Have questions or want to get more involved? Reach out to your Grassroots Manager, Kylie Barber.”
As described on its official website, NFIB serves as an advocate for small business interests throughout Colorado by providing resources such as policy representation, compliance tools, research support, and opportunities for owners to participate in shaping state economic policies.
