Colorado’s special session is opening with a tug‑of‑war over who broke the piggy bank and who gets to glue it back together. In “AI regulation, taxes: Here’s what business, labor groups are watching in Colorado special session,” the Denver Gazette/Colorado Politics lays out the field: Democrats blame federal corporate tax changes for a $1.2 billion revenue crater, Republicans say the majority overspent like a teenager with a new credit card, and everyone’s bracing for an AI fight they postponed last session.
The Gazette notes Colorado’s first‑in‑the‑nation AI law from 2024 is still set to kick in on Feb. 1, 2026. Polis signed it with a cringe and asked for fixes. Lawmakers fumbled a delay when Rep. Brianna Titone filibustered in the final days. Now business and labor are re‑arming for round two in the special session.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Business vs. Labor: Businesses say last year’s AI bill was rushed and made a mess. Labor wants to keep the “anti‑discrimination” frame intact. That is code for more rules.
- Small biz alarm: NFIB says mom‑and‑pops are “apprehensive” after a red‑tape‑heavy regular session. Democrats are floating a vendor fee kill that turns shop owners into unpaid tax collectors.
- Chamber eye roll: Denver Metro Chamber calls the special session unnecessary and warns against using H.R. 1 as a pretext to hike fees and meddle with markets.
- Health cost whiplash: Premiums are projected to jump and lawmakers are eyeing $105 million from the unclaimed property fund to prop subsidies and reinsurance. Because nothing says “sustainability” like couch‑cushion money.
- AI “Sunshine” push: Unions and the ACLU cheer a new transparency‑heavy bill. Tech groups call it compliance theater that buries innovation in disclosures. Pick your paperwork poison.
My Bottom Line
Weld County does not need more state “help.” I need the gold‑dome hobbyhorses to stop riding counties like rented mules. The article makes it plain that Denver’s answer to a revenue hole is new hoops, new fees, and an AI re‑regulation binge dressed up as consumer love. Translation: higher costs for locals and a fresh stack of unfunded mandates landing on county desks.
If you want affordability, stop outlawing common sense. If you want innovation, stop duct‑taping “AI transparency” binders to every login screen in government. If you want small business to survive, stop wiping out vendor fees and pretending you did them a favor. We deliver services in Weld without a union of regulators standing between us and the people. Keep the state in its lane. Let counties govern, businesses breathe, and taxpayers keep what they earn. Otherwise Colorado will regulate itself into a coma while calling it progress.
