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DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to reduce barriers to new, good-paying jobs in coal-transitioning communities. SB26-052 makes important modifications to the Office of Just Transition to prioritize coal-transition workers in hiring and community investment.
“Over the years, we’ve taken action to jumpstart economic development and good-paying jobs in Northwest Colorado by investing in and prioritizing coal-transitioning communities,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “This bill puts qualified coal-transition workers first in line for new and upcoming jobs in their communities and allows our coal-transitioning counties to immediately maximize settlement investments. Strengthening pathways into good-paying jobs is important for rural Colorado, local economies and hardworking families, and I’m proud to sponsor this bill.”
“Coal-transition communities in my district face unique economic impacts, and this bill maximizes investments in good-paying jobs and rural economies,” said Rep. Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo. “Our bill makes sure workers transitioning from coal jobs are considered first for new and emerging jobs in their communities. Together, we’re establishing strong career pathways for workers in rural Colorado, so we can do right by our coal-transitioning communities and local businesses.”
SB26-052 prioritizes workers transitioning from coal jobs, making them first in line for emerging jobs in their communities. This bill makes important modifications to the Office of Just Transition to ensure coal-transition workers directly benefit from ongoing and future community and economic development. Specifically, SB26-052 provides coal-transitioning communities the flexibility to invest Just Transition settlement dollars in a wider range of investment opportunities.
To help ensure no worker is left behind, this bill helps direct workers toward new jobs, including in the transportation, infrastructure, clean energy, manufacturing, and industrial fields. The goal of SB26-052 is to maximize the impact of state investments in coal-transitioning communities and ensure their workers are prioritized in the hiring process for new, future jobs in their neighborhoods.
Established in 2019, the Office of Just Transition works to assist local governments in retaining and developing good-paying jobs in coal-transitioning communities, creating new career pathways for workers, and boosting economic growth. This bill makes necessary changes to improve the Office of Just Transition to better meet the needs of workers in rural communities.