In an op-ed published in The Business Times, Michael Smith, State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in Colorado, outlined the priorities of small business owners for the 2026 legislative session. These include opposing new employer mandates, protecting the Labor Peace Act, and seeking to eliminate swipe fees on merchants’ taxes.
Smith emphasized the role of small businesses in Colorado’s economy. He wrote: “Small businesses represent 99.5 percent of Colorado businesses and employ roughly 1.2 million people, almost half of all Colorado employees. This session, small-business owners are counting on lawmakers to see Main Street, not as a source of revenue or a problem to micromanage, but as a partner in Colorado’s future economic prosperity.”
The op-ed comes at a time when small business optimism is rising nationally. According to Smith, “a recent NFIB survey found that as optimism is rising, uncertainty has declined to its lowest level since June 2024.” However, he noted that local challenges remain due to a projected $1 billion budget shortfall in Colorado.
Smith also addressed proposed changes to the Labor Peace Act and increasing regulatory pressures faced by small businesses. He stated: “Main Street, along with the vast majority of Coloradans, supports the Labor Peace Act in its current form. Despite this support, Big Labor Union Bosses are attempting to weaken the act by eliminating the second election required to approve a union agreement.”
He further commented on state regulations: “Colorado’s regulatory environment has become a serious challenge for small business owners to navigate. Last year, the legislature advanced several bills that complicate owning a small business in our state, including two bills that attempt to insert the government into how small businesses price their goods and services.”
Smith urged lawmakers not to add more regulations: “Despite even the best intentions, in practice many of these employer regulations go beyond federal guidelines, are overly broad, include hefty fines or expose small businesses to frivolous lawsuits… Lawmakers should resist any more regulatory hurdles for Main Street.”
Finally, he called for relief from credit-card-swipe fees: “Main Street needs relief from credit-card-swipe fees (also known as interchange fees)… Credit card companies should not be profiting off merchants who collect Colorado’s taxes…”
The NFIB acts as an advocate for independent businesses nationwide and provides resources tailored specifically for Colorado entrepreneurs through policy representation at both state and national levels (official website). The organization offers compliance tools and research while promoting economic policies designed for growth among local enterprises (official website). Through advocacy efforts focused on legislative support and fostering economic development within Colorado’s business community (official website), NFIB continues its commitment as an authoritative voice for Main Street interests.
