Small business owners in Colorado are urging lawmakers to maintain the current provisions of the state’s Labor Peace Act as the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee prepares to vote on HB 1005. The proposed bill would remove the requirement for a second vote before unionization, a step that has prompted concern among some members of the business community.
Michael Smith, State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), spoke out against the bill, stating: “Currently, the Labor Peace Act requires strong worker support before the implementation of union agreements, ensuring workers’ voices are heard. For Main Street employers, who already have an onerous regulatory landscape to navigate, removing the second-vote requirement would make it more difficult to manage their workforce, control costs, and plan for the future. The majority of Coloradans oppose removing the second-vote requirement, and lawmakers should protect this safeguard for workers.”
Smith also discussed broader issues affecting small businesses during a conversation with John Rush on “Rush to Reason” at the start of Colorado’s legislative session. He emphasized opposition to proposals he characterized as harmful to small businesses and called for reforms aimed at improving business conditions in Colorado.
“We really think it’s important for Colorado to start having a more sound environment for small businesses to thrive and succeed,” Smith said. “There’s been a number of proposals in the past, and more this year, that are not good for businesses. We need businesses to be able to have confidence and certainty to plan for the future so they can invest in their businesses, investment capital, and their employees. That’s really what we need for small businesses to thrive here.”
The NFIB is an organization that advocates for small and independent businesses by providing legislative support and resources through its state-level operations in Colorado and across all 50 states. According to its official website (https://www.nfib.com/colorado/), NFIB offers tools, research, compliance guidance, and conducts surveys on economic conditions while representing business owners’ interests at both state and national levels.
For those interested in hearing Smith’s full remarks on these issues, his interview can be accessed online.
