A bill to repeal a law governing how unions may impose fees is headed to the Senate floor after passing through the chamber’s Appropriations Committee in a 4-1 vote. 

Senate Bill 005 would repeal the Colorado Labor Peace Act’s requirement for a second election for employees to establish a “union security” agreement at their workplace. Once agreed to by the company and the union, non-union workers would be required to pay a fee to the union.  

That election has a higher threshold — 75% of workers must vote “yes.”    

The bill has received strong backing from Colorado’s labor unions and just as much backlash from the business community. It was heard by the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee last month, where it received a 4-3 favorable vote. 

Because the second election is run by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, repealing it would reduce state costs by about $25,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and $37,000 in future years. 

The three Democrats present at the Appropriations Committee meeting, Chair Judy Amabile of Boulder and Sens. Chris Kolker of Centennial and Jeff Bridges of Greenwood Village, voted to pass the bill on to the Senate floor, while Republican Sen. Byron Pelton of Sterling voted against it.