The National Federation of Independent Business announced its strong support for Colorado Senate Bill 137, which would improve how state agencies review their existing regulations.

In a statement, NFIB Colorado Director Michael Smith applauded the effort.

“Colorado’s regulatory environment has become a serious challenge for small business owners to navigate. Ensuring state agencies are not only regularly reviewing their rules, but also determining which rules are duplicative or could be eliminated, is good governance and will help ease the regulatory burden of Main Street Coloradans. We urge lawmakers to quickly approve SB 137 and send it to the Governor’s desk for signature.”

SB 137 requires state agencies to review all their rules at least every five years. Additionally, the bill requires state agencies to consider these determinations:

• Whether the department has rules with the same or similar purpose, intent or goal and, if so, how those are coordinated and whether redundant rules can be eliminated.
• Whether the rule is outdated or obsolete.
• Whether funding levels to support the program or function subject to the rule are appropriate.
• Whether there are opportunities to improve the effectiveness of the rule in meeting its purpose, intent or goal.
• Whether the rule creates administrative burdens on the agency, consumers or businesses without a corresponding public benefit.