Cutter’s Bill to Reduce Deceptive Solicitations, Save Business Owners Money Unanimously Clears Committee

SB23-037 requires deceptive marketing tactics on solicitations related to the Secretary of State to end

DENVER, CO – Senator Lisa Cutter’s, D-Jefferson County, bill to put an end to deceptive marketing tactics on solicitations related to the Secretary of State passed the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs committee yesterday with unanimous support.

Many Colorado business owners have received solicitations by mail that include deadlines and language that imply the request has come from a government official and that charge up to $200 for documents that are of little to no cost to file directly with the Secretary of State. SB23-037 bars these letters or emails from implying they are associated with any state or local agency, and requires them to include specific disclaimer language and information on where the document can be filed directly with the Secretary of State.

"I’m a small business owner, and I have been targeted by these deceptive solicitations countless times,” said Cutter. “It’s easy to be fooled by official looking communications, which is why this bill requires transparency so that business owners can make informed decisions about how to spend their hard earned dollars.”

The bill classifies noncompliance as an unfair or deceptive trade practice, and violators will be issued a fine of up to $20,000.

SB 23-037 will now move to consideration on the Senate floor. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.