Local leaders preview 2026 legislative priorities at Lone Tree breakfast

Local business and civic leaders convened on Jan. 8 at the Lone Tree Arts Center for the South Metro Chamber Legislative Kick-Off Breakfast, a morning briefing that set out priorities area stakeholders expect to press during the 2026 legislative session. The event, held from 7:15 to 9 a.m., offered a chance for south-metro representatives to align on policy goals that could influence taxes, transportation funding, workforce programs, and economic development across Douglas County.

Chamber-driven kickoffs like this serve as an early warning system for local employers and civic groups. By previewing priorities before lawmakers formally introduce bills, organizers give businesses and residents time to weigh in with elected officials, adjust strategic plans, and marshal resources for advocacy or compliance. For Douglas County—where commuting patterns, housing demand, and growth-oriented local governments shape the economy—those priorities matter for budgets, permitting, and hiring strategies over the coming year.

The morning event was one item among several community listings for the week that also included job fairs, additional chamber gatherings, and cultural and civic programs across the south-metro area. Those listings point to a dual focus this month: immediate labor-market activity through job fairs that connect employers and workers, and longer-term policy advocacy through chamber briefings that aim to influence the legislative agenda. Employers tracking labor costs, workplace regulation, and public investment in transit or infrastructure should pay attention to both signals.

From a market perspective, early alignment among business groups can accelerate coordinated lobbying and information campaigns, which raises the chance that favored measures reach legislative agendas. For small and mid-size businesses in Douglas County, that can translate into changes to tax treatment, incentives for workforce training, or shifts in permitting timelines that affect development and hiring. For jobseekers, the week's job fairs offer tangible hiring opportunities; for civic groups and residents, the cultural listings provide forums to stay engaged with local planning and services.

If you missed the breakfast, local chambers and civic groups typically publish follow-ups and host roundtables that break down specific bills and timelines. The practical next steps remain straightforward: monitor proposed bills that touch taxes, land use, transit, and workforce policy; attend chamber mixers and job fairs to influence outcomes and find openings; and contact county commissioners or state legislators to register priorities early.

Our two cents? Show up and speak up—networking at a job fair can land you a job this season, and turning up at a chamber meeting now can help shape a rule that affects your bottom line later.