(April 18) – The House Local Government Committee advanced a bill today to allow counties and cities to increase the minimum wage in their localities beyond the state minimum wage, currently $10.20 an hour. HB18-1368, sponsored by Reps. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and Jovan Melton, D-Aurora, would allow local governments to adjust their minimum wage
(April 18) – The House approved a bill led by Speaker Crisanta Duran and Rep. Faith Winter to address sexual misconduct in higher education by a vote of 34-28. In 2017, the Trump administration rescinded guidance for institutions of higher education on how they should address sexual assaults under the federal law, Title IX. The
(April 18) – A bipartisan bill to improve access to a program to reduce the number of unlicensed, uninsured drivers on Colorado roads passed the House today. SB18-108, sponsored in the House by Reps. Jeni Arndt, D-Fort Collins, and Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont, removes obstacles that have restricted access to a program launched in 2013 to
(April 17) – For the thousands of Coloradans frustrated by lack of access to mental health services, a bill by Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet offers hope for a brighter future. “Nearly half a million Coloradans are not getting the mental health and substance use treatment they need,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “People in
(April 16) – A pair of bills to address the statewide teacher shortage passed the House today. HB18-1189, sponsored by Reps. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, and Lang Sias, R-Arvada, creates a pilot program to expand residencies, in which aspiring teachers are paired with experienced mentor teachers in the classroom. “We need to continue to look at
(April 17) – The House passed legislation today to ensure that an open and free internet is protected in Colorado. HB18-1312, sponsored by Reps. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Leslie Herod, D-Denver, to protect net neutrality and safeguard taxpayer money, passed on a 35-28 vote. Last year, the Trump administration rolled back Obama-era rules ensuring a
(April 16) – A bill to assure the long-term solvency of Colorado PERA, the retirement plan for teachers and government employees, was significantly amended in the House Finance Committee today. SB18-200, sponsored in the House by Majority Leader KC Becker and Rep. Dan Pabon, commits $225 million in new funding to reduce PERA’s liability and
(April 16) – The House Education Committee approved a bill sponsored by Speaker Cristana Duran and Rep. Faith Winter to address sexual misconduct in higher education by a vote of 7-6. Last year, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos rescinded Obama-era guidance for institutions of higher education on how they should address sexual assaults under the
(April 16) – A bill to create a Colorado insurance pool to provide paid medical leave to workers after childbirth, or to deal with their own serious illnesses of those of close family members, passed the House today. The family medical leave insurance program, sponsored by Reps. Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and Matt Gray, D-Broomfield, would
(April 13) – Rep. Jessie Danielson’s bill to better connect Coloradans to vocational and technical training opportunities passed the House on second reading today. “Colorado needs more trained workers and these apprenticeships pave a path to good-paying jobs in stable careers,” said Rep. Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge. “By creating more opportunities to find available vocational technical training and apprenticeships, we are
