Capitol Connection: February 17, 2014
Pre-Registration for REALTOR® Day closes February 7th
Don’t miss the 2014 REALTOR® Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, February 26th at the McNichols Building and the State Capitol. Based on feedback received from local leadership, we have completely revamped this event and are very excited for you to attend. We are offering Capitol Tours and Meetings with Legislators as part of the selections to help craft an educational and entertaining day. This is a great opportunity for you to learn about and discuss important policy issues affecting the real estate industry this upcoming year, as well as hear from legislative leaders and network with your legislators. Pre-registration is $55 and includes lunch and an afternoon program. For more details, or to register today, please click here.
Legislative Policy Committee
The Legislative Policy Committee (LPC) met for the first time today to consider current bills been introduced so far in the 2013 Legislature. The LPC will continue to meet every other week until the General Assembly adjourns in early May.
CAR’s HB 1136 Regulation Continuing Professional Education was Introduced
CAR has formally taken the position of SUPPORT of HB 14-1136, Concerning Exempting a Continuing Professional Education Program that is approved by a State Professional Licensing Board from regulation by the Division of Private Occupational Schools in the Department of Higher Education. Under existing law, the division of private occupational schools in the department of higher education regulates private occupational schools and the education programs they provide. The bill exempts a continuing professional education program from regulation if the program is approved by the applicable Colorado professional licensing entity for maintenance or renewal of a professional license and the organization that provides the course qualifies under federal law as a nonprofit corporation. Also, the program must be consistent with the purposes or requirements of the organization that provides the program.
CAR is running this piece of legislation due to a bill from last year that removed our exemption that enabled local boards and CAR to provide continuing education to non-members. This bill would restore our ability to provide continuing education to non-member licensees and other industry professionals.
SB 08 Create Wildfire Information and Resource Center
CAR has formally taken the position of SUPPORT on SB14-008, Concerning the Creation of the Wildfire Information and Resource Center in the Division of Fire Prevention and Control in the Department of Public Safety. The bill creates the wildfire information and resource center in the division of fire prevention and control in the Department of Public Safety. It is one of the bills brought forward by the Wildfire Matters Review Committee.
CAR believes educating homeowners about how to mitigate risk on their properties is a targeted and reasonable policy solution which will have a much greater long-term positive impact and is more likely to change people’s behavior towards wildfire prevention.
HB 1009 Change Wildfire Mitigation Deduction to Tax Credit
CAR has formally taken the position of SUPPORT on HB14-1009, Concerning Changing the Wildfire Mitigation Tax Deduction to the Wildfire Mitigation Tax Credit. The bill changes the wildfire mitigation income tax deduction to the wildfire mitigation income tax credit. An income tax deduction reduces a taxpayer’s taxable income, the amount to which the tax rate is applied. A tax credit reduces a taxpayer’s tax liability by taking a dollar-for-dollar reduction in what is owed by what the credit allows. The bill allows a landowner a credit of 50% of the costs incurred in performing wildfire mitigation measures, not to exceed $2,500. Any amount in excess of the landowner’s tax liability in the year the credit is first claimed may be carried forward to offset the landowner’s future tax liability for 5 years.
This bill also comes out of the Wildfire Matters Review Committee. Policy proposals that are focused on educating property owners and incentivizing activities that reduce the risk of wildfire are more likely to have a long term impact.
