The National Federation of Independent Business announced on March 31 its support for SB 137, a bill that would require Colorado state agencies to regularly review and potentially eliminate outdated or duplicative regulations.
The proposed legislation is intended to address concerns from small business owners about the complexity of the state’s regulatory environment. By mandating reviews at least every five years, lawmakers aim to streamline rules and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens.
Michael Smith, NFIB State Director, said, “Colorado’s regulatory environment has become a serious challenge for small business owners to navigate. Ensuring state agencies are not only regularly reviewing their rules, but also determining which rules are duplicative or could be eliminated, is good governance and will help ease the regulatory burden of Main Street Coloradans. We urge lawmakers to quickly approve SB 137 and send it to the Governor’s desk for signature.”
SB 137 would require agencies not only to check if any existing rules serve similar purposes but also consider whether such overlaps can be removed. The bill also calls for evaluation of whether specific rules are outdated or obsolete, if funding levels remain appropriate for regulated programs, how rule effectiveness might be improved, and whether administrative requirements outweigh public benefits.
The National Federation of Independent Business aims to advocate for small and independent businesses by providing legislative support and resources according to its official website. The organization provides dedicated support across all states including Colorado according to its official website, engages in advocacy promoting policies that foster economic growth according to its official website, offers tools and compliance guidance according to its official website, and functions as an advocacy group focused on small business interests according to its official website.
If passed into law, supporters say SB 137 could help make it easier for Colorado’s small businesses by removing redundant regulations while ensuring necessary oversight remains in place.
