The Colorado General Assembly met for a three-day Special Session this week to pass an economic stimulus package that provides support and relief to certain small businesses, education providers, and families.

At the end of the session, 10 bills passed the legislature and were sent to Governor Polis for his signature.

• House Bill 1001 – Grants to Improve Internet Access In P-12 Education: Creates a grant program in the Colorado Department of Education to distribute $20 million in funding to local education providers to increase internet access for students and staff.

• House Bill 1002 – Emergency Relief Programs for Child Care Sector: Creates two grant programs (sustainability and expansion) to support child care in Colorado.

• House Bill 1003 – Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program: Modifies the Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program, including eligible entities, deadlines, and grant amounts.

• House Bill 1004 – Qualified Retailer Retain Sales Tax for Assistance: Allows qualifying retailers in the alcoholic beverages drinking places industry, the restaurant and other eating places industry, and the mobile food services industry to temporarily deduct up to a certain amount in net taxable sales from their monthly state sales tax return and retain the resulting sales tax revenue.

• House Bill 1005 – Local Authority to Impose Food Delivery Fee Restrictions: Allows both municipalities and counties to limit the fee that a third-party food delivery service may charge to a restaurant.

• House Bill 1006 – Insurance Premium Tax Payments and Credits: Makes several changes to how insurance premium estimated taxes are paid.

• Senate Bill 001 – COVID-19 Relief Small and Minority Businesses Arts Organizations: Provides relief to small businesses, arts and cultural organizations, and minority-owned businesses.

• Senate Bill 002 – Housing and Direct COVID Emergency Assistance: Transfers money from the General Fund to cash funds supporting housing assistance programs.

• Senate Bill 003 – Money for Energy Utility Bill Payment Assistance: Provides direct energy bill payment assistance to low-income households.

• Senate Bill 004 – Transfer to Make Money Available For COVID-19 Emergency: Transfers money from the General Fund to the Controlled Maintenance Trust Fund and allows the Governor to transfer these funds to the Disaster Emergency Fund, if needed, to respond to the COVID emergency during the current fiscal year.

Read the full summary from Colorado Legislative Strategies.

In the weeks leading up to the 2021 legislative session, CBSA continues to advocate for our life sciences ecosystem. We will keep our members updated on the policy issues impacting life sciences.