Summary
Representatives Wouk and Hartsock proposed raising the vendor allowance from 4% to 6% and increasing the monthly cap; committee adopted a sponsor amendment then later postponed the bill indefinitely.
Representatives Wouk and Hartsock brought House Bill 25B‑10‑21 to the State Affairs Committee seeking to increase the vendor allowance retailers may keep from 4% to 6% and raise the $1,000 monthly cap to $2,000. Wouk said the change would "give Colorado small businesses a little support while many of them are seeing significant rising costs," and Hartsock added that the increase could be the difference between staying open or closing for operators on razor‑thin margins.
The sponsors offered amendment L001 to change the statutory 4% allowance to 6%; the committee adopted the amendment by unanimous consent. Testimony included small‑business advocates and business owners who said modest monthly sums meaningfully help payroll or operating expenses. Opponents and some members questioned the fiscal offset during a special session focused on closing a significant revenue shortfall.
After debate the committee did not advance the bill to Appropriations and ultimately postponed House Bill 25B‑10‑21 indefinitely.
