Advisors, Agents & Financial Professionals Participate in Legislative Day on the Hill at the Colorado State Capital

(Denver, CO) Professional insurance and financial advisors, agents, brokers, and employee benefits specialists from across the state attend the 2026 annual Legislative Day held by the Colorado chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA-CO) at the Colorado state capital, on Friday the 6th of February 2026.

House Floor of the Colorado State Capital

The NAIFA CO legislative conference brought together members to participate in advocacy training and meetings with state legislators and regulators to discuss issues important to providing financial security for families and businesses across Colorado.

“Advocacy is an important part of being a good NAIFA citizen and working in the best interests of our clients,” said NAIFA-CO President Kate Kilgore Cihon. “I commend all our members for participating in our advocacy day and being engaged in the only membership association for insurance and financial services professionals with an advocacy program that protects and services main street America and has members that live, work and vote in every district in our state.”

NAIFA Colorado President Kate Kilgore Cihon

NAIFA CO invited several elected officials to attend the conference. The keynote speaker was State Securities Commissioner Tung Chan.

Commissioner Chan spoke openly about her desire to grow small business in Colorado within the financial and securities industry, allowing for good regulations that both help the agent and advisors know what to expect and protect the consumer. Commissioner Chan covered the current Audit (Sunset Review) report of the Securities and Exchange Commission in the State. NAIFA CO supports the Sunset review and is happy to work with Commissioner Chan to keep a line of communication open with her and her office, grow the industry and protect the consumer and help families, small business, young professionals, pre-retirees and the retired to start, grow and keep their assets and build wealth now and for the next generations.

Commissioner Chan taking questions from NAIFA Colorado members

The NAIFA Colorado Legislative Day would not be possible without two key individuals that are invaluable to both the Association and to the main street consumer. Longtime NAIFA CO lobbyist Fofi Mendez, Managing Principal of Mendez Barkus and Associates and Melissa Young, Regional Vice President of ACLI (The American Council of Life Insurers). Fofi and Melissa are without a doubt two of the most capable people within their profession holding a vast understanding of sound public policy application and are honest in their dealings with all they interact with. Thank you both!

Fofi Mendez – Mendez Barkus and Associates

Melissa Young, Regional Vice-President ACLI

(American Council of life Insurers)

NAIFA CO would like to recognize and thank our Day on the Hill legislative sponsor State Representative Anthony Hartsook (HD44-R). Representative Hartsook was the prime sponsor of the HB-1192 Financial Literacy Bill in 2025. The Bill called for financial literacy to be taught and required to graduate High School. NAIFA CO supported and testified in both the House and Senate in strong support of the bill. HB-1192 passed and was signed into law in June 2025.

NAIFA Colorado Members Brent Jones, State Representative Anthony Hartsook,

George Bain & Douglas Stevens

NAIFA CO would like to thank the following Senators: State Senator State Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet (SD21-D) and Senator John Carson (SD30-R) Senator Lynda Zamora Wilson (SD9-R) Senator Larry Liston (SD10-R) Senator Rod Pelton (SD1-R) and Senator Marc Snyder (SD12-D).

State Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet

Speaking with NAIFA Colorado members

NAIFA Colorado and Government Relations Committee member

Stephanie Leatherman and State Senator John Carson

NAIFA CO would like to thank the following members of the House: State Representative Jennifer Bacon (HD7-D) Representative Ceclia Espenoza (HD4-D) Representative Junie Joseph (HD10-D) Representative Chris Richardson (HD56-R) Representative Mandy Lindsay (HD42-D) Representative Larry Don Suckla (HD58-R) Representative Kenny Nguyen (HD33-D) Representative Jacque Phillips (HD31-D) Representative Amy Paschal (HD18-D).

We thank each of you for visiting with NAIFA CO attendees and supporting the insurance and financial service industry and look forward to added interaction in the future.

About NAIFA: Founded in 1890, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors is the preeminent association for financial service professionals in the United States of America. NAIFA members, in every Congressional district and every state house and senate district subscribe to a strong Code of Ethics and represent a full spectrum of practice specialties to promote financial security for all Americans. Complimented by its professional development and consumer divisions, the Society of Financial Service Professionals, and Life Happens, the association delivers value through advocacy, service, and education.