The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) convened industry and local-government stakeholders this fall for a DORA ‘sunrise’ engagement to examine the prospect of a statewide HVAC licensing floor. Clay, who presented the update, said DRCOG sought a formal DORA review of HVAC licensing rules — not a proposal to draft a state license — and that DORA will publish its conclusions on Dec. 31.

The sessions, organized in downtown Denver and split into an industry-focused morning and a local permitting-offices afternoon, drew more than 200 participants, Clay said. “They were pretty blown away by the amount of attendance,” he told the committee, adding that unions and many industry stakeholders showed up in force.

Committee members said the turnout could indicate momentum. “If they didn't expect anybody to show up and 200 people showed up, that might be a sign for them,” a committee member said during Q&A. Clay said industry stakeholders, including electrical and plumbing unions, largely supported a statewide floor because it would help elevate standards across the trade and address safety concerns; at the meeting he relayed a contractor’s warning that “HVAC systems can kill people, and they have before.”

Local permitting offices offered mixed views. Several committee members flagged Colorado Springs and other jurisdictions that already operate regional licensing or testing systems and expressed concern about how a state floor would interact with home-rule authority. Clay said the DORA process can include a state minimum while allowing jurisdictions to add more prescriptive local requirements and exemptions where appropriate.

DRCOG staff framed the DORA review as part of a broader effort to reduce administrative burdens for contractors who now may hold many local licenses to operate across the Denver region, and to support workforce development. Clay also emphasized the need for contractor training if any licensing changes move forward.

DORA’s final report, expected Dec. 31, will state whether the agency supports establishing a statewide HVAC licensing floor and explain its reasoning; DRCOG staff said the committee’s role was limited to organizing stakeholder engagement. DRCOG will circulate DORA’s published position to committee members when it is released.