Skip to content
NFIB Logo Join Now

House Should Cut the Lights on the POWR Act

House Should Cut the Lights on the POWR Act

April 26, 2023

House Should Cut the Lights on the POWR Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tony Gagliardi, Colorado State Director, tony.gagliardi@nfib.org, or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, anthony.malandra@nfib.org DENVER, April 26, 2023—One business association today separated itself from some of the sister associations it often partners with on legislation by opposing – in its entirety — Senate Bill 172, a discrimination in the workplace measure that reads more like a lawyer-enrichment scheme than a curative. “We’re glad a couple of our sister business associations lobbied for some changes in this needless proposal, but our members would like to see it defeated entirely,” said Tony Gagliardi, Colorado state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The so-called Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights (POWR) Act (SB 172) is speeding its way through the House committee process and is expected to come up for a vote by the full House ahead of the May 8 adjournment date for the 2023 session. “Our small-business-owning membership employs between five and nine people. These people work night and day not only keeping their enterprises open but complying with all the local, state, and federal paperwork required of them. They can’t afford human resources directors, compliance officers, and lawyers that big companies can. They are also quite capable of handling the rare harasser in their midst. “Colorado already has strong laws against workplace discrimination. Could we hear from SB 172 proponents why the severe-and-pervasive standard on workplace discrimination used by 46 other states is not fit for Colorado and why liberalizing it is not a thank-you to their trial-lawyer patrons seeking more lawsuit opportunities?” According to the bill’s Fiscal Note, SB 172 “redefines harassment as ‘unwelcome conduct related to an individual’s membership in a protected class, and submission to the conduct is a condition of the individual’s employment, is used as a basis for employment decisions, or would be offensive to a reasonable person in the same protected class;’ specifies that harassment does not need to be severe or pervasive to constitute a discriminatory or unfair practice.” “Only our legislative progressives could turn a blind eye to the epidemic retail theft and drug crimes pervasive in our states — and right outside our Capitol — to look for evil doing in a mom-and-pop Main Street enterprise,” said Gagliardi. Keep up with the latest Colorado small-business news at www.nfib.com/colorado or by following NFIB on Twitter @NFIB_CO or on Facebook @NFIB.CO ### For nearly 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since its founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com. NFIB Colorado 1700 Lincoln Street, 17th Floor Denver, CO 80203 303-860-1778 www.nfib.com/colorado Twitter: @NFIB_CO Facebook: NFIB.CO
Get to know NFIB

NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.

Receive our newsletter and email notification
Knowledge is power. Let us help you stay informed with breaking legislative news, regulatory updates, business tips, and more.

Related Articles

pottery factory
February 5, 2026
Colorado Small Business Owners Call on Lawmakers to Protect the Labor Peace Act
“The majority of Coloradans oppose removing the second-vote requirement, and lawmakers should protect this safeguard for workers.”
Read More
February 5, 2026
COLUMN: Why Georgia’s Tort Reforms Matter
Stopping lawsuit abuse helps control costs, protect small businesses.
Read More
Federal Buildings; Stock Images; U.S. Supreme Court; US Supreme Court; United States Supreme Court; SCOTUS
February 4, 2026
NFIB Files Briefs in Critical Small Business Cases
The NFIB Small Business Legal Center filed several amicus briefs involving shipping and transportation liability, arbitration agreements, and agency interpreta…
Read More
February 4, 2026
Small Business Owners to Missouri General Assembly: Curb Lawsuit Abuse Now
Annual small business survey finds the majority of Main Street members oppose the regulation of websites
Read More

© 2001 - 2026 National Federation of Independent Business. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Accessibility