County lobbyist briefs Lake County commissioners on 2025 legislative landscape, budget pressure

Lake County commissioners heard a state-legislature update at their Jan. 30 work session, during which the county’s contract lobbyist, Elizabeth Rosen, and county staff outlined major bills, explained the long bill (the state budget process) and urged commissioners to choose priorities for lobbying this session.

Rosen told the board that county advocacy at the Capitol is now organized into tiers so staff and commissioners can decide how much time and political capital to devote to particular bills. Tier 1 bills would receive the county’s logo, testimony and in-person commissioner appearances; Tier 2 would get registration and targeted testimony; Tier 3 would be monitored or receive limited staff engagement.

The briefing stressed the scale of the state budget problem and the limits on county options. Rosen said the state faces roughly a $700 million to $1 billion shortfall heading into the long bill process, and that quarterly economic forecasts — the next due in March — will determine final budget numbers. She warned commissioners that TABOR-related obligations and a recent recalculation requiring another roughly $115 million in refunds put additional pressure on the budget.

“Everyone agrees that there is no money,” Rosen said, adding that the shortfall will affect programs county governments rely on, including the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program and Medicaid provider rates.

Why it matters: Commissioners depend on state funding for human services, public health and other core county functions. Rosen said early, targeted advocacy and use of the county’s lobbyist can help protect or recover funds or secure statutory authority where counties need it.

Key bills and issues discussed

- Regional jail bill (listed in the briefing as House Bill 1050): Rosen said it cleared committee and has no fiscal note; it will advance to the full House on second reading. She credited county staff for work in an interim committee that helped build bipartisan support for the bill. Rosen called that interim vetting “smart” because it makes bills easier to move through the current session. (Transcript: Rosen, Jan. 30, 2025)

- Wireless permitting timeline (identified in materials as House Bill 1056): Rosen and County Attorney Chris said the bill would shorten local permitting timeframes for wireless telecommunications facilities and narrow counties’ negotiation windows. County staff told commissioners the Colorado Counties Inc. (CCI) and the County Attorneys Association were concerned about the scope and staff burden of the proposal.

- Vehicle registration fee for vulnerable road users (referred to as HB1044 in briefing materials): A draft from CC4CA would permit a county to add a registration surcharge on larger vehicles to finance sidewalks, protected bike lanes and other vulnerable-user protections. Rosen said the governor’s office opposes new fees but has not proposed alternative revenue sources.

- Digital accessibility law fixes (a House bill described as 1110 and a subsequent draft to indemnify local governments): Rosen described last year’s House Bill 1110, which required accessibility standards for digital records and websites across government entities. Counties face significant compliance costs and legal exposure, she said. Rosen is tracking a new bill that would limit local government liability by making vendors legally accountable when vendor-produced materials fail accessibility requirements.

- ADA-related liability expansion and voting-rights changes: County Attorney Chris reported that proposed changes to Colorado’s public-accommodation law could add new damages claims (including pain-and-suffering claims) against local governments; he also flagged a proposed change to the Colorado Voting Rights Act that could impose new administrative obligations on clerks and local governments. Rosen said supporters of those bills will meet county staff to discuss details.

Rosen also reviewed the legislature’s political dynamics: Democrats control both chambers but, as of the session, neither chamber held a supermajority that could override a governor veto or place referred measures on the ballot without bipartisan support. She described unusually high turnover and recent vacancy-committee appointments — roughly a third of the legislature had been seated by vacancy committee in her account — and warned commissioners that high turnover has consequences for legislative relationships and continuity.

What the commissioners directed or were asked to consider

Rosen asked commissioners to prioritize bills into the tiered system and invited commissioners to participate in CCI and CCAT steering committees and legislative breakfasts. Staff said the county will present specific recommendations later and requested that commissioners consider memorializing the housing needs assessment at an upcoming meeting.

Ending

Commissioners thanked Rosen for the overview and said they would follow up on priority-setting and participation in association calls and breakfasts. Rosen said she would continue to monitor bills and work with county staff on amendments or testimony as requested.