Colorado Lawmakers Advance Credit Card Fee Restrictions While Abandoning High Profile Prostitution Decriminalization Bill

Colorado advances SB 134 to cut credit card fees on sales tax but kills the prostitution decriminalization bill. Governor Polis delays Tina Peters clemency.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 14, 2026, 9:12 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Denver Post

Legislative Push to Eliminate Sales Tax Swipe Fees

A Colorado Senate committee has provided initial approval for Senate Bill 134, a measure aimed at reducing the financial burden on local retailers and restaurants. The legislation would prohibit credit card companies, such as Visa and Mastercard, from charging processing fees on the sales tax portion of a customer's total bill. Currently, businesses pay a percentage fee on the entire transaction amount, including taxes they are merely collecting on behalf of the government. Proponents argue that these "fees on taxes" drain millions from small business owners annually. The bill passed the Business, Labor and Technology Committee on a party line vote, with Democrats advancing the measure despite opposition from the financial services sector.

Withdrawal of Sex Work Decriminalization Efforts

Plans to decriminalize prostitution across Colorado have been officially shelved for the 2026 legislative session. Senator Nick Hinrichsen, the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 97, announced that the measure would be voluntarily killed during its first committee hearing. Hinrichsen acknowledged that the proposal lacked the necessary support within the Senate Judiciary Committee to move forward. While advocates of the bill sought to frame sex work as a labor issue and a means to improve safety for vulnerable individuals, the measure faced significant pushback from various stakeholders. The withdrawal reflects the challenges of advancing far reaching social reforms even within a Democratic controlled legislature.

Governor Polis Delays Tina Peters Clemency Decision

Governor Jared Polis has informed state lawmakers that he will postpone a final decision regarding the commutation of Tina Peters' prison sentence. Peters, the former Mesa County clerk, is currently serving a nine year term related to a 2021 election equipment security breach. The Governor’s office stated that he will wait for the Colorado Court of Appeals to issue a ruling on her case before considering executive intervention. This delay follows a period of intense political pressure, including a formal letter from Democratic lawmakers urging Polis not to reduce a sentence he previously characterized as "harsh."