Colorado and local governments are expected to receive billions of dollars from the 2021 American Rescue Plan. In an effort to better understand the needs and current economic challenges facing the state, Governor Polis, Treasurer Dave Young, and state legislators are launching a statewide virtual listening tour. The goal is to gather ideas from communities across the state about how federal stimulus dollars can be best used to accelerate our economic recovery.

The tentative schedule for meetings statewide is below.

• Pueblo and Southern Colorado – Sunday March 28, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. 
• Western Slope – Sunday, March 28, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 
• Northern Colorado – Tuesday, March 30, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
• Metro Denver North – Thursday, April 1, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
• Four Corners – Saturday, April 3, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. 
• Metro Denver South – Saturday, April 3, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 
• Colorado Springs – Monday, April 5, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
• Eastern Plains – Wednesday, April 7, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

We also expect state leaders to hold industry and community-specific meetings. Those dates have not yet been decided.

If you are interested in attending a regional meeting, please visit www.buildbackstrongerco.com to register.

Legislative Session Update: Repair of Digital Electronic Products

On Thursday, House Bill 1199 was heard in the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee. The legislation requires manufacturers of digital electronic equipment to share their diagnostic and repair information, software, tools and parts with unregulated repair providers. CBSA submitted written testimony in opposition to the bill, outlining our strong concerns with a mandate for technology companies to turn over proprietary information. The bill also specifically targets electric wheelchairs, which are highly regulated by the U.S. FDA. HB 1199 would undermine those regulatory requirements and in doing so, create unnecessary patient safety risks. Read CBSA’s written testimony.

There was a strong coalition opposing HB 1199, and the bill died in committee by a vote of 1-12.

As the session continues, CBSA will advocate for our members and engage on legislation impacting our life sciences ecosystem. We will provide regular updates to our community, but if you have specific questions, please don’t hesitate to contact CBSA vice president Emily Roberts.