Senate Finance Committee Approves Rapid Respond Legislation to COVID-19

DENVER, CO – Today the Senate Finance Committee passed multiple important pieces of legislation that directly respond to the COVID-19 crisis. These bills include proposals to establish a small business recovery loan fund, prevent price gouging, and protect workers from retaliation when they raise work safety concerns. 

”These bills prioritize protecting Coloradans on multiple fronts,” said Sen. Pettersen, D-Lakewood. “From ensuring that workers can raise health concerns without fear of retaliation, to shielding families from being taken advantage of in their time of need, these policies work to fortify people’s defenses where it matters most.”

HB20-1414 Price Gouge Amid Disaster Deceptive Trade Practice, sponsored by Senators Brittany Pettersen and Mike Foote, empowers the Attorney General or local District Attorneys to enforce consumer protections, specifically regarding people or businesses that excessively increase the cost of certain necessary goods or services during public emergencies.

“We, unfortunately, see price gouging during public emergencies and our current one is no exemption,” said Sen. Foote, D-Lafayette. “Price fluctuations are normal market reactions to changes in supply and demand, however, taking advantage of a crisis for profit is unacceptable. We need to hold bad actors accountable and defend Coloradans from being exploited in their time of need.”

HB20-1415 Whistleblower Protection Public Health Emergencies, sponsored by Senators Brittany Pettersen and Robert Rodriguez, protects workers who raise concerns regarding their health and safety in the workplace from retaliation and requires employers to allow their workers to wear personal protective equipment. Sadly, some employees are being punished or fired when they speak out, this bill protects them from such unjust action.

“It’s unacceptable to retaliate against workers for raising safety concerns, but sadly we’ve heard countless stories of that happening,” said Sen. Rodriguez, D-Denver. “This bill ensures that employers can’t fire or punish their staff for speaking out– a crucial protection in a time when the world is facing a deadly viral outbreak and some businesses are not doing enough to keep their workers safe.”

HB20-1413 Small Business Recovery Loan Program Premium Tax Credits, sponsored by Senators Rachel Zenzinger and Kerry Donovan establishes a small business recovery loan fund of $250 million of state and private dollars for loans to small businesses over the next two fiscal years. This fund will help support Colorado’s small businesses community and stimulate the state’s economic recovery.   

“Colorado’s small businesses are integral to our state’s economy, but right now too many are struggling to meet their payroll obligations or to pay their bills,” said Sen. Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “This bill will support small businesses on the road to recovery by granting them additional access to the capital they need to keep their doors open.”