Small Business Majority has outlined key legislative priorities for the 2026 session aimed at strengthening Colorado’s small business ecosystem amid economic uncertainty and rising operational costs. With more than 730,000 small firms employing 1.2 million Coloradans—99.5% of all businesses in the state—lawmakers are being urged to focus on affordability, access to capital, and workforce sustainability.
Major policy goals include reducing healthcare costs by increasing oversight of hospital consolidations and ensuring long-term funding for the state’s Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise. The group also calls for protection of Medicaid access, continued progress on the Colorado Option health plan, and renewed support for paid family and medical leave implementation.
Workforce and family supports remain a priority, including reauthorizing the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit and expanding affordable childcare options critical to women and rural entrepreneurs.
To boost access to capital, the agenda urges lawmakers to protect funding for state small business lending programs—particularly the CLIMBER Loan Fund—and invest in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) serving underserved entrepreneurs. It also advocates for commercial lending transparency through a Colorado Small Business Borrowers’ Bill of Rights and new grant programs for minority- and women-owned firms.
Other recommendations include stronger lease transparency protections, removal of Social Security number barriers for immigrant business owners, and policies curbing price discrimination against small retailers. Finally, the group supports a graduated income tax to increase revenue for affordable childcare and healthcare.
Together, these proposals aim to foster a more inclusive, competitive, and resilient small business environment across Colorado.