DENVER (Feb. 26, 2025) – Ahead of the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee hearing considering HB 1054, NFIB State Director Michael Smith urged lawmakers to oppose the bill’s creation of a new, state-level workplace safety regulatory regime.

“Workplace safety is a top priority for every responsible employer,” Smith said. “Small business owners already have a complex regulatory environment to navigate here in Colorado, and many do not have an army of attorneys or compliance officers at their disposal. Main Street does not need more rules, more paperwork, and more legal exposure. This is the exact wrong approach to promote workplace safety. Most small business owners do everything they can to protect their employees, many of whom they view nearly as family.

“Small businesses are the foundation of our state’s economy. We need them to continue to keep their doors open, meet their customers’ needs, and create good jobs. They need our Legislature to reject policies, like HB 1054, that make it harder to do business in our state.”