Every day, decisions are made at the State Capitol in Denver, in town and city council meetings, at rulemaking hearings, at the ballot box, and inside the offices of elected officials that can change the outlook for business owners throughout Colorado. You don’t have time to monitor every debate, discussion, and proposal that develops – so we do it for you.
The CRA’s legislative priorities are determined by our members, who are the restaurateurs and vendor allies who form the CRA Board of Directors, the Boards for our statewide chapters, and the legislative committee that supports and advises our staff on the issues relevant to our advocacy efforts. These individuals represent all elements of the local hospitality industry, from single-unit independent restaurants on the Western Slope to multi-unit chain concepts on the eastern plains and everything in between.
Join us today and raise your voice for our industry.
Remember, if you’re not at the table, your business is likely on the legislative menu.
Top 2026 Advocacy Wins
Protected Future Funding for the Hospitality Workforce Grant
The Joint Budget Committee and the Legislature did not preserve grant funding for FY26–27, which keeps Colorado ProStart® strong, but after extensive outreach from the CRA, the CRF, and Colorado ProStart® supporters, they did leave the funding line item in the budget for future years.
Issues Affecting Colorado Restaurants in 2026
- Inflation
- Staffing shortages and workforce development
- Swipe/interchange fees
- Labor, wage & hour laws
- Housing and transportation
- Health & wellness
- Taxes & tax incentives
- Liquor regulations
- Small-business development
- Tourism
- ADA
- Supply chain disruptions
- Licensing
- Sustainability
- Immigration
- Cannabis regulations
- Food code
Bills We Tracked in 2026
The CRA Government Affairs team fights every day to protect your businesses’ interests at all levels of government.
Below you can learn about the bills that relate to the restaurant industry that we actively engaged in or monitored during the 2026 State Legislative Session.
As the leading restaurant advocacy organization in Colorado, the CRA is your go-to source for industry information. If you are a member of the media or the legislature and want to learn more about how the above bills or issues impact restaurants, we are here to help!
Action Center
Make an impact by adding your voice to the CRA’s periodic grassroots campaigns.
Get Involved
Support and influence our advocacy work on behalf of restaurants, and learn how to communicate effectively with representatives at all levels of government.
