SUBJECT:
Title
2025 Legislative Agenda Discussion
Body
DEPARTMENT: Communications & Community Engagement
Department
PRESENTER(S): Gabi Rae, Director of Communications & Community Engagement
First Name Last Name, Title
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 minutes
only required for non-consent items
FISCAL SUMMARY: N/A
POLICY ISSUES:
Given the limited time left in the 2025 Legislative Session (3 months), Council should consider if there are items to add, remove, or edit in the current 2025 Legislative Agenda before a full revision and approval of the 2026 Legislative Agenda in the fall.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Maintaining the current, approved 2025 Legislative Agenda for the few weeks left in the session would allow Council and staff to focus on having a robust discussion in the fall in preparation for the 2026 Legislative Session. If specific items are identified by Council during the last few weeks of the current session that are not covered by the existing Agenda or a Council Member wishes to advocate counter to the current Agenda direction, those specific topics can be brought forward in a Council Meeting for discussion.
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
In 2023, the Board of Trustees requested staff assistance in developing a legislative policy agenda to reflect the Town of Erie’s State and Federal policy priorities and provide a tool for legislative engagement. A legislative agenda serves as a useful document for the Town in managing legislative affairs prior to and during the legislative session. In addition to summarizing the Town’s key policy priorities, the Legislative Agenda:
• Reflects the Town’s needs regarding State and Federal legislative actions and administrative policy.
• Establishes agreement among the Town Council regarding legislative positions, reducing the need for the Council to take positions on specific bills as they emerge.
• Provides the Town’s policy priorities to State and Federal legislators to help inform their legislative activities and decision-making.
• Serves as a roadmap for Town Council Members and Erie staff regarding engagement in legislative advocacy.
• Guides engagement with State associations, regional groups, and other partners.
The first iteration of the Legislative Agenda for the 2024 Legislative Session was created with the help of a local consultant who was a former local government policy analyst and lobbyist. The 2025 Legislative Agenda was created with research and input from staff, regional associations, and the Council.
The goal of the document is to reflect the Town’s strategic goals, current priorities, as well as any challenges and barriers that the Town may be facing in fulfilling its duties and responsibilities. Each fall, staff identify a set of proposed policy priorities that have an intersection with State and/or Federal policy. These policy priorities are developed through review of the Town’s Community Priorities, the Town Council’s Work Plan priorities, interviews with department directors, consideration of the current political landscape (including the make-up of the Colorado General Assembly), and context from the previous legislative session.
In addition, staff also incorporates issues that impact Erie and have been identified by partner organizations including the Colorado Municipal League (CML), Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), Mayors and Commissioners Coalition (MCC), Metro Mayors Caucus (MMC), Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA), and other statewide and regional partnerships that will directly affect the Town’s operations and/or constituents.
Use of the Legislative Policy Agenda
The Legislative Policy Agenda serves as a tool as the Town meets with its State and Federal legislative delegation members, professional trade associations, municipal and local government partners, stakeholders, advocacy groups, constituents, and other partners to determine if there are opportunities to address any of the policy priorities in the coming year. Proactive discussions with State legislators provide an opportunity for Erie’s delegation members to consider how they can help address the needs of their constituents in the Town.
Council Members involved with specific lobbying or advocacy organizations are better prepared to convey the Town’s position on legislative matters that are reflected in the Legislative Agenda.
Legislative Calendar
The State of Colorado Legislature meets each year from January through May and occasionally in Special Sessions as called by the Governor.
• 2025 Legislative Session
o Jan. 8, 2025 - May 7, 2025
• 2026 Legislative Agenda Creation Calendar (DRAFT)
o August-September: Internal data collection with staff on legislative priorities
o October: Council asked to discuss upcoming legislative priorities for regional association
o Early November: Draft 2026 Legislative Agenda presented to Council for discussion and direction
o Mid-November: Final 2026 Legislative Agenda presented to Council approval
• 2026 Legislative Session
o Jan. 7, 2026 - May 8, 2026
TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
ü Effective Governance
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. 2025 Legislative Agenda