Uber announced that Colorado lawmakers should study the long-term effects of House Bill 26-1273 on ride affordability and driver earnings before advancing it.
The company’s announcement comes as state legislators consider a proposal that would limit transportation network companies from retaining more than 20% of a consumer fare for trips completed through their platforms. The measure, introduced in February and referred to Appropriations in March, defines ‘consumer fare’ as the amount paid by riders excluding tips and pass-throughs such as tolls, according to the Colorado General Assembly.
Uber argues that government-driven costs already make up a significant portion of rider fares in Colorado. More than 20% of the average rider fare in the state already goes to government-mandated insurance, taxes, and fees, including 14% for commercial insurance on TNC trips and about 7% for taxes and fees. Uber also places Colorado among the 10 states with the highest TNC insurance costs, saying that additional mandates could further increase rider fares, according to materials released by Uber.
The company points to Seattle as an example for policymakers to consider. In a 2025 economics paper from Boston University examining similar minimum-earnings rules in Seattle and Washington, researchers found that pay per trip rose after policy implementation, but trip volumes fell by 26% among studied drivers. The paper reported no net increase in weekly pay for full-time couriers even as consumer costs rose, according to Boston University.
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, Uber operates a global platform spanning ride-hailing, delivery, freight, and business mobility services. The company reported more than 200 million monthly users completing over 40 million trips per day by the end of 2025 across roughly 70 countries, according to Uber Technologies Inc.
