Here’s what Colorado Democrats, Republicans have said about lowering costs this legislative session

Increased costs for Coloradans — from housing to groceries — are top of mind for state lawmakers as they lay out their legislative priorities this session. 

Colorado Democrats, who hold a 43-22 majority in the House and a 23-12 majority in the Senate, are eyeing additional housing reforms to further boost supply after passing broader efforts last year that loosened local land-use codes in a bid to incentivize more development. 

“This year, we’ll build on our progress to increase the availability of affordable housing, bring down construction costs, support renters and continue partnerships with local leaders to find solutions that address their communities’ unique needs,” said Senate President James Coleman (D-Denver) in a news conference last week. 

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Priorities include changing construction defect laws to make it easier for developers to build housing and cracking down on landlords who use rent-setting algorithms to artificially inflate prices. 

House Speaker Julie McCluskie (D-Dillon) said Democrats will also seek to lower health care costs, which includes legislation to ensure behavioral health care is covered at the same level as other types of primary care. 

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Democrats, in the opening days of the 2025 legislative session, have also introduced measures like a ban on price gouging of grocery store items and a limit on child care fees to try and temper the costs of essential goods and services. 

Republicans want to focus largely on repealing regulations and fees passed in previous sessions that they say have created thousands of dollars in additional annual costs for the average household. 

During a news conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen (R-Monument) unveiled a plan by Republican legislators to repeal more than a dozen state laws. 

“This affordability crisis is no accident,” Lundeen said. “It’s the direct result of misguided policies that were created in this very building.” 

Those policies include fees on plastic bags, retail and food delivery, gas and diesel fuel and nicotine products, which help fund state and local programs. Fees on gas and diesel fuel, for example, pay for transit infrastructure maintenance while the state’s 10 cent bag fee funds local waste diversion initiatives. 

Republicans also want to overturn regulations like the state’s recently-implemented cage-free egg law and require energy building codes be “cost-effective” rather than relying on the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code.

Lawmakers estimate repealing some of those measures could generate major savings for families every year, claiming that moving away from international energy code compliance could save $3,780 alone. Yet repealing other measure would save families just a few dollars a year. 

Republicans claim the total cost savings would add up to $4,500 a year for families. 

Republicans are likely to face challenges to their efforts to repeal many of the bills given Democrats’ strong majorities in both chambers. 

One area where leaders from both parties seem to agree is changing construction defect laws, a measure that hasn’t yet been introduced. Coleman and McCluskie have both called for the reforms, which also have the support of Lundeen and House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese (R-Colorado Springs).

Lawmakers tried last year to pass a similar bill but the legislation failed to garner enough votes in the House. 

“The big dollar savings for the people of Colorado is wrapped around housing,” Lundeen said. “It’s the place where we can truly get the benefit and so much of that is found in the excessive costs that Colorado builders and developers feel.” 

Lundeed said he is also encouraged by Gov. Jared Polis’ call to reduce unnecessary regulations. 

During his State of the State address last week, Polis asked the legislature to “take a good look at Colorado’s laws and regulations and honestly question whether they are adequately balancing consumer protection, health, and safety, while minimizing red tape and reducing costs for the private sector and for Coloradans.”

The governor recently made headlines for taking a table saw to a stack of more than 200 executive orders, which he formally repealed through another executive order. 

Lundeen said the governor’s actions amounted to “wonderful political theater” that gave a “minuscule amount of regulatory relief.” 

“Now, we’re saying, ‘dig down — let’s dig deeper, let’s get real, meaningful regulatory reform,'” Lundeen said. 

Pugliese made similar comments on the House floor during the first day of the session. 

“As a legislature, we must acknowledge the role we have played in making Colorado less affordable,” Pugliese said. “It is critical to have honest discussions about fees.”

Also looming over the legislature this session is a roughly $1 billion budget shortfall caused by factors like increased Medicaid spending, fewer federal dollars and a constitutionally mandated cap on state revenue. 

McCluskie said she is pushing House members to put forward bills that don’t increase the state’s costs, telling reporters during last week’s news conference, “There is no money to spend.”