Small-Business Owners Speak Up, State Listens and Reacts

January 17, 2023

Small-Business Owners Speak Up, State Listens and Reacts

Not so fast. That’s the message NFIB members sent to the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) about its desire, once again, to follow the lead of California in creating a new environmental regulation it had hoped wouldn’t get much push-back. When NFIB State Director Tony Gagliardi got wind of the AQCC’s wish to modify Rule 20 concerning the requirement for semi-tractor truck manufacturers and dealers to begin aggressive marketing of electric delivery vehicles, he immediately teamed up with NFIB Grassroots Manager ML McGinty to alert the membership that would be most affected and to encourage them, through a special portal set up by NFIB, to demand AQCC conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis of the rule modification before moving any further. The result: On January 17, the Dept. Of Regulatory Agencies informed Gagliardi that such an analysis would be conducted. “This is a great example of what can be achieved when small business makes its powerful voice heard,” said Gagliardi. “There’s no guarantee AQCC will not go ahead with what it wanted to do all along, but it will not to be able to go at warp speed without having counterpoints voiced and recorded for the record.” Another area of concern the proposed program AQCC wants is it’s not limited to large, heavy-duty trucks. The application of the rule to vehicles with GVW limits of 8,500 lbs. can include many light duty pick-up trucks and vans equipped with heavy duty suspensions. These lighter vehicles are often used by small businesses in industries such as printing, auto parts, and home maintenance services such as HVAC and office equipment sales and service. NFIB will continue to monitor and report to its membership the latest news on this subject.