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Colorado Municipal League announces 2025 legislative priorities
DENVER, Colo. – Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 – The Colorado Municipal League (CML) today unveiled its 2025 legislative priorities ahead of the upcoming state legislative session. The agenda prioritizes policies that support local governments in addressing critical issues such as housing affordability, transportation and transit infrastructure, and protecting local taxpayers from state overreach. CML calls on lawmakers and Gov. Jared Polis to champion solutions that empower municipalities to address these challenges through collaboration, state investment, and respect for local authority.
“CML’s 2025 Legislative Priorities continue the League’s emphasis on ‘partnership, not preemption,’” said Kevin Bommer, CML executive director. “The General Assembly and the governor can be significant allies in ensuring municipalities can address local needs without costly mandates and preemptions, and CML will advocate for all our 271 cities and towns in support of these priorities.”
“The challenges and opportunities before us this session demand thoughtful solutions and a commitment to preserving local governance,” said Heather Stauffer, CML legislative advocacy manager. “From affordable housing to transportation infrastructure, we will work to ensure municipalities have the tools they need to serve their communities effectively.”
In 2024, CML played a pivotal role in the passage of Senate Bill 24-174, State Support for Sustainable Affordable Housing, a bipartisan effort signed into law by Gov. Polis. This landmark legislation, developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and supported by leaders from both parties, provides municipalities with the tools and state resources needed to create tailored housing solutions that prevent displacement and preserve the unique character of Colorado's communities. CML urges legislators to continue building on this success by considering policies that enhance local capacity without imposing one-size-fits-all mandates.
CML remains steadfast in opposing legislation that undermines municipal authority, creates unfunded mandates, or places disproportionate fiscal and legal burdens on local governments.
Key highlights of CML’s 2025 legislative priorities include:
Housing
- Support for state incentives that bolster affordable housing development and strategic planning.
- Opposition to state preemption of local authority in zoning, land use, and permitting processes.
Criminal Justice
- Advocacy for tools to address repeat offenders and improve access to counsel for those facing jail sentences.
- Opposition to mandates that undermine local control over police and court operations.
Economic Development
- Support for policies that encourage sustainable growth within municipal boundaries and strengthen intergovernmental cooperation
Taxation
- Advocacy for extending new authority over revenue for statutory municipalities, including excise and vacancy taxes with voter approval.
Transportation
- Support for state and federal investments in infrastructure and public transit safety.
- Opposition to diversions from the Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) that reduce local funding.
Unfunded Mandates
- Opposition to state mandates that impose financial burdens on local governments without corresponding funding.
State Budget
- Advocacy against budget cuts and revenue sweeps that disproportionately impact municipalities and vital local services.
Municipal Liability
- Opposition to efforts that increase municipal liability or remove existing protections, which could strain local resources and compromise critical services.
For a full list of priorities and detailed explanations, visit cml.org/home/advocacy-legal/cml-2025-legislative-priorities.
Colorado Municipal League (CML) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established in 1923 and represents the interests of 271 cities and towns. For more information on the Colorado Municipal League, please visit cml.org, call 303-831-6411 or stay connected on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Media Contacts:
- Heather Stauffer, legislative advocacy manager, hstauffer@cml.org
- Kevin Bommer, executive director, kbommer@cml.org