DENVER, CO – The House today passed Representative Dominique Jackson and Yadira Caraveo’s bill to improve air quality on third reading and final passage. The bill passed by a vote of 41-24.
“As a pediatrician, I’ve seen the immediate adverse health effects of poor air quality in my young patients,” said Rep. Caraveo, D-Thornton. “Protecting air quality is always a crucial public health concern, but it’s now more important than ever as Colorado continues to deal with COVID-19 and other respiratory challenges.”
“We’ve taken important, concrete steps to improve Colorado’s air quality this year,” said Rep. Jackson, D-Aurora. “In addition to being bold, sensible environmental policy, this bill is also an important, and timely public health proposal. While protecting the air we all breathe, this measure will also help operators throughout our state advance air quality technology. This is common-sense legislation that benefits everyone.”
SB20-204 would protect Colorado’s public health and air quality by ensuring that environmental regulations are enforced and working to bring our state into compliance with federal ozone standards.It would create the TABOR-exempt Air Quality Control Enterprise in the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The Enterprise would conduct air quality monitoring, assessment, data analysis and research and report on it to the General Assembly to promote science-based air quality policy.