HB23-1272 saves Coloradans money with more than $60 million in annual tax credits and exemptions to businesses and consumers for decarbonization investments < Back April 6, 2023 Clean Energy Tax Incentives Win Committee Approval HB23-1272 saves Coloradans money with more than $60 million in annual tax credits and exemptions to businesses and consumers for decarbonization investments DENVER, CO – The House Energy & Environment Committee today passed legislation to save Coloradans’ and businesses money by expanding tax incentives for clean transportation, heat pumps, geothermal energy, and industrial emissions reductions. This bill is part of a broader legislative package to incentivize the advancement and adoption of clean energy technologies that build upon federal initiatives to maximize Colorado’s ability to benefit from federal funds, create good-paying jobs and help the state meet its climate goals. “This monumental legislation is pivotal in helping Colorado reach its climate goals while significantly lowering energy costs for businesses and families,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora . “From e-bikes and electric vehicles, to geothermal heating and cooling systems, this bill shepherds clean energy tax incentives to improve our air quality and save Coloradans money. We’re committed to investing in innovative clean energy sources to power our economy and heat our buildings, and this bill builds upon federal investments to help Colorado utilize the latest technology to meet our climate goals and transition to more sustainable energy sources .” “Our bill makes it easier for Coloradans to implement some of the impressive clean energy tools and technologies that not only save them money, but bring us closer to reaching Colorado’s climate goals,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “This bill offers consumers significant tax credits to reduce the cost of electric vehicles, prioritizes incentives for clean energy sources, and will attract new businesses to create good-paying jobs. This bill is good for consumers, businesses, the economy and our planet.” Tax Incentives to Advance Decarbonization : HB23-1272 passed committee by a vote of 8 to 3. This bill would reduce the costs of clean energy technologies for residents and businesses across Colorado through tax incentives. This includes incentives for investments in geothermal electricity development and high-efficiency heat pumps, and for measures to reduce industrial pollution. It would also extend and expand tax credits for electric trucks and passenger vehicles and discounts on electric bikes to help increase adoption of cleaner transportation methods. Specifically, this bill builds upon the federal incentives available through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Job Acts to help Colorado maximize the impact of federal dollars. Tax incentives in HB23-1272 are expected to exceed $60 million with individual elements ramping up or down over time depending on available technologies. The bill: Extends and expands the innovative motor vehicle tax credits and creates an additional $2,500 credit for certain electric passenger vehicles. Continues the innovative truck tax credit for electric and plug-in hybrid electric trucks, with the credit ranging between $5,000 and $12,000 depending on the truck’s weight until 2032. Creates a refundable income tax credit for the sale of qualifying e-bikes if the retailer offers a $700 discount to the customer. Designs a refundable income tax credit for the installation of heat pump technology in residential and nonresidential buildings. The credits will vary based on the type and use of the heat pump. Establishes the refundable industrial clean energy tax credit to implement greenhouse gas emissions reductions at qualifying large facilities. Creates the refundable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility tax credit worth up to $1-5 million annually for the costs of constructing a SAF production facility. Previous Next

On August 7, two laws to support rural health care and increase the availability of telehealth services in rural and underserved areas will go into effect. < Back August 2, 2024 New Laws to Support Rural Health Care, Increase Availability of Telehealth Services Go Into Effect DENVER, CO – On August 7, two laws to support rural health care and increase the availability of telehealth services in rural and underserved areas will go into effect. SB24-055 , sponsored by Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Representative Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, improves access to behavioral health care in rural Colorado by creating a new Agricultural and Rural Community Behavioral Health program that will work to better connect farmers, ranchers, and their families to behavioral health care. The program will partner with the Behavioral Health Administration, Colorado Department of Agriculture, and stakeholders to work directly with behavioral health care providers and liaisons to provide support to agricultural industry workers and communities throughout Colorado. “Colorado’s farmers, ranchers, and their families are struggling to get the behavioral health care they urgently need, and the results have been disastrous,” said Marchman. “Everyone deserves to have behavioral health care created by and for their own communities. This new law will bolster our ongoing efforts to close the rural mental health gap, and ultimately help save lives across our state.” “Coloradans living in rural and mountain communities, like mine, deserve access to high-quality health care – including mental and behavioral health care,” said Lukens. “We’re taking steps to expand mental health care support for our farmers and ranchers in their communities. Mental health matters in every corner of our state, and this new law will improve access, outreach, and connection for our farmers and ranchers to receive the behavioral health care they need.” Also sponsored by Senator Perry Will, R-New Castle and Representative Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, SB24-055 establishes a working group and centralizes existing grant programs within the Colorado Department of Agriculture to better address the root causes of behavioral health issues in rural and agricultural communities. Farmers, ranchers and those in the agriculture industry currently rank fourth in the state for the highest suicide rate. This law aims to connect farmers and ranchers with tailored behavioral health care resources. Sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and Representative Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, SB24-168 d irects the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to reimburse the use of telehealth remote monitoring for outpatient services for Medicaid patients and provide coverage for continuous glucose monitoring devices. Also sponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, the new law creates a grant program to assist rural and shortage area providers in obtaining remote telehealth monitoring equipment. Funds from the grant program could also be used for training staff on utilizing remote monitoring equipment. “Expanding access to health care is critical, especially in our rural and mountain communities,” said McCluskie. “Members of my family live with diabetes, and continuous glucose monitors have made living with this disease better for all of us and ensured strong health outcomes for my husband. To help ensure everyone has access to the health care they need when they need it, our law works to expand and encourage telehealth options. This new law also establishes a grant program to help our hospitals and providers implement telehealth technology and better serve our community members.” “Coloradans in my district know firsthand how challenging and expensive it can be to access critical health care services,” said Roberts. “During my time in the legislature, I’ve worked hard to deliver high-quality, affordable health care services to underserved and rural areas and this law expands access to remote health services and continuous glucose monitors, which have proven to be successful at ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time and save so much money in the long-run.” “For many of the residents living in my district, the nearest hospital is miles and miles away, making it hard to receive high-quality health care when they need it,” said Martinez. “This law expands telehealth services into rural and underserved communities like mine so everyone can access the treatment and care needed to live a healthy life. Our bipartisan law also creates a rural-specific grant program to help our health care providers locate and implement telehealth remote monitoring technology in their practice.” Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis yesterday signed bipartisan legislation into law to establish a framework for age attestation on digital platforms. < Back June 4, 2026 ICYMI: Paschal, Ricks Bill to Protect Children Online Becomes Law DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis yesterday signed bipartisan legislation into law to establish a framework for age attestation on digital platforms. “In an era where children are given phone access at a young age, it is crucial that we strengthen online protections to keep children safe,” said Rep. Amy Paschal, D-Colorado Springs. “We have protections in place to prevent targeted advertising and profiling of minors online, but without accurate age attestation, it is difficult to deploy these protections. Our new law creates guidelines around age data collection to apply age-appropriate protections for minor users while ensuring that third-party companies cannot get their hands on this information.” “From social media platforms to game apps, this law helps create a safer online environment for Colorado children,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “In today’s world, it is nearly impossible to prevent children from accessing the internet. This law helps online platforms accurately apply protections based on the age of the user, giving parents another tool to protect their children online.” SB26-051 establishes a framework for operating systems to send age bracket information to apps without requiring users to submit sensitive personal identification documents. The law requires an operating system provider to collect an account holder’s age or birth date upon account set-up and translate that information into certain age brackets. These operating system providers must share the age bracket information with application developers to help them determine the age range of the user, including whether the user is a minor. These operating system providers and app developers are not allowed to share this age data with third-party companies, or to collect any data not directly related to determining age range. SB26-051 also establishes penalties for non-compliance, including up to $2,500 for negligent violations and $7,500 for intentional violations for each impacted minor. The Colorado Privacy Act was created in 2021 to improve data privacy protections. The law allows people to opt out of data collection on websites and requires companies to be transparent about the data they collect. It also enhanced these protections for minor users, requiring data controllers to be sensitive to data processing, targeted advertising and profiling of minors. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to allow the sale of temperature-controlled homemade foods in Colorado. < Back April 30, 2026 Tamale Act Passes House DENVER, CO — The House today passed legislation to allow the sale of temperature-controlled homemade foods in Colorado. The Tamale Act passed by a vote of 46-17. “Growing up, I watched my abuela and mom sell delicious food to make ends meet, and this bill is an entrepreneur’s dream realized,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “The Tamale Act makes it possible for Coloradans to sell safe, temperature-controlled foods, like tamales and burritos, with fewer barriers. We know that many immigrant families are looking for new, creative ways to earn money while navigating the Trump Administration's harsh policies, and our bill will open doors. The Tamale Act is a win for home chefs, and I know it will make all the difference to people like my abuela.” The Tamale Act ( HB26-1033 ) would allow for the sale of homemade foods in Colorado that require refrigeration and foods that include meat or meat products. To keep Coloradans safe, homemade food sellers must complete a food safety course that includes proper food handling, including time and temperature control. Food sellers must maintain proof of the course completion. The course can be completed in-person or online. Additionally, food sellers may not transport the food more than once or transport it longer than two hours. The Tamale Act is also sponsored by Representative Ryan Gonzales, R-Greeley. In 2012, Colorado passed the Cottage Food Act. This law allowed for the sale of some homemade food items, including coffee beans and pickles, but not temperature-controlled items or meat and dairy products. This bill expands the Cottage Food Act so home food sellers can sell products that include staple ingredients, such as butter, milk and meat. The Institute for Justice analyzed data from seven states with some of the broadest homemade food laws and found no significant instances of foodborne illness traced back to homemade foods. In the report, IJ stated these results should not be surprising considering “many of these cottage food businesses are run by only one or two people, with their name, reputation, and livelihood on the line.” Previous Next

The House today advanced a commonsense gun violence prevention bill in a preliminary vote to strengthen Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law. < Back March 25, 2023 Houses Advances Bill to Expand ‘Red Flag’ Law DENVER, CO - The House today advanced a commonsense gun violence prevention bill in a preliminary vote to strengthen Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law. “ We’re expanding Colorado’s ‘red flag’ law to allow district attorneys, mental health professionals and educators to file a petition to remove a firearm from someone who is a danger to themself or others,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “This law is a successful tool that has saved lives, but Coloradans need to know how to use it and have better access to the red flag process. This legislation will increase awareness of the law and create additional avenues for qualified individuals to seek a court action to remove a firearm from a dangerous person, which will save lives, reduce gun violence, and help keep our communities safe.” “Colorado’s ‘red flag’ law is working; from 2020 to 2022, law enforcement, close family members, and housemates filed 380 red flag petitions, saving countless lives and avoiding tragedies,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “It’s clear that professionals who understand the legal system are more successful at filing red flag petitions. That’s why this bill creates an education campaign to help people understand how to file a petition. We know we can save more lives and improve public safety by expanding our red flag law, and that’s exactly what this bill does.” Originally passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Polis in 2019, the Zackari Parrish III Violence Prevention Act is a tool used to temporarily remove firearms from a person who a judge determines is a threat to themselves or others. Currently, a petition for removal can only be filed by a family member or a law enforcement officer. SB23-170 will expand the list of individuals eligible to file an ERPO to include district attorneys and other law enforcement officials, licensed health care providers, mental health professionals, and educators. According to the Associated Press , Colorado has one of the lowest use rates of its ‘red flag’ law. Colorado issued only 3.3 protection orders per 100,000 adult residents through 2021, ranking the sixth lowest among 19 states that have red flag laws. In comparison, Florida issues 33.6 protection orders per 100,000 adult residents. Researchers have found that for every 10 to 20 protection orders, one suicide might be averted. With SB23-170 expanding eligible individuals that can file a petition for removal, more lives can be saved by gun violence. Nearly 360 red flag petitions were filed from 2020 to 2022. Previous Next

< Back April 11, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSES BILL TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION COSTS Democrats working to lower cost of health care (Apr. 11) – Aimed at reducing the price that consumers pay for prescription medications and increasing transparency for the industry, HB19-1296 , or the “Colorado Prescription Drug Cost Reduction Act of 2019,” passed the House Finance committee. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora, and Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont. “I recently found out that one of my prescriptions, which I was able to afford because of a $25 dollar coupon, went up to over $1,500 and I’m not the only one dealing with these frightening price increases,” said Rep. Jackson. “In 2017, one in ten Coloradans did not get their prescription filled because because of the high cost. This bill will help lawmakers identify why drug prices are skyrocketing so we can tackle it effectively and help lower the cost of health care.” The transparency part of the bill will require drug manufacturers, insurers, and Pharmacy Benefit Managers to submit prescription drug claims data to the Division of Insurance for analysis and policy recommendations. They face disciplinary action and fees if they do not comply. “As a pharmacist, I know there are many Coloradans who are having to choose between food to feed their families and life-saving drugs,” said Rep. Jaquez Lewis. “We’ve seen drug price increases of sometimes up to 500 percent that are just drowning patients. This bill will be, by far, the most influential bill to reduce overall prescription drug costs ever introduced in Colorado.” Rep. Jaquez Lewis is a licensed pharmacist. If passed, discounts could start as soon as 2020. This bill is an ambitious step forward in protecting consumers and comes as 26 other states are considering their own bills intended to increase drug cost transparency. HB19-1296 passed on a vote of 7-4 with House Republicans voting to maintain the status quo. The bill now goes to the House Appropriations committee. The bill is sponsored in the state Senate by Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, and Sen. Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins. Previous Next

HB25-1322 would require insurance companies to provide a copy of a customer’s insurance documentation when requested < Back April 25, 2025 Carter, Espenoza Bill to Protect Consumers Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Michael Carter and Cecelia Espenoza that would ensure Coloradans who request a copy of their insurance policy receive it. HB25-1322 passed the House by a vote of 42 to 20. “Insurance companies cannot withhold your policy from you, yet many of them are, and it’s causing headaches for consumers,” said Rep. Michael Carter, D-Aurora . “This bill protects consumers by holding insurance companies liable when they don’t share requested policy documents with consumers on time.” “Whether you’re looking to file a claim after a disaster or just updating your records, Coloradans deserve access to a certified copy of the insurance policies they are paying for,” said Rep. Cecelia Espenoza, D-Denver. “This bill strengthens consumer protections by making sure insurance companies follow through when a customer requests a copy of their insurance policy.” Under current law, insurance companies are required to provide policyholders with a certified copy of their policy within 30 days of a request. However, some companies are not following through with the request, which means consumers do not receive a copy of their policy when they ask. HB25-1322 ramps up consumer protections by holding insurance companies liable for violating the law. Under HB25-1322, if insurance companies do not provide documentation within 30 days, they would be held liable for damages and attorney’s fees, including a daily $50 charge for every day past the 30-day window that the consumer does not receive their policy. This bill also clarifies that the consumer's request must be in writing and submitted to the insurance company’s registered agent. Previous Next

< Back June 18, 2021 CRITICAL MENTAL HEALTH BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW Bill signed into law today provide three free mental health session for Colorado youth, improve 2-1-1 human services hotline DENVER, CO - – Governor Polis today signed two bills into law that will provide three free mental health sessions to Colorado youth and include behavioral health referrals as part of the states 2-1-1 human services hotline. “We’ve heard from parents and students in every community that they need better access to mental health care,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Thanks to this new law, any school aged person will be able to get three free mental health sessions. We have to put students first as we recover from this pandemic and build back stronger, and that’s what we’ve done by creating this program and directly addressing the mental health needs of our students.” HB21-1258 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Kevin Van Winkle, would create a temporary youth mental health services program in the Office of Behavioral Health within the Department of Human Services to facilitate access to mental health services for identified needs, including those that may have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. The program would provide any young person age 18 and under with an online mental health screening and would then reimburse providers for up to three mental health sessions. This support is intended to prepare children for the return to in-person learning and a review of stress management tools, and to make a plan for ongoing treatment when necessary. We estimate that this program can support up to 25,537 children. “Colorado’s 2-1-1 Human Services Referral System connects people with critical services, and now it will also be a resource for Coloradans who are struggling to access behavioral health care,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “To build back stronger and recover, we have to ensure that everyone in our state can access the mental health care and support they need to heal and thrive.” “People who don’t have health insurance or who are unemployed face some of the toughest obstacles to obtaining mental health care,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “The bill Governor Polis signed today will boost funding for the 2-1-1 hotline and expand it to include behavioral health care referrals, providing more Coloradans access to mental health providers and the services they need.” SB21-239 , sponsored by Representatives Judy Amabile and Mary Young, would improve the 2-1-1 Statewide Human Services Referral System. The bill appropriates $1 million to expand referral services authorized by the Colorado 2-1-1 collaborative to include referrals for behavioral health services and other resources in the state. By doing so, the 2-1-1 hotline will be able to connect more Coloradans with the mental health services they need. The bill additionally focuses on connecting Coloradans who are unemployed or who do not have health benefits to mental and behavioral health services. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation that would prevent excessive increases in rent in the wake of a disaster. HB24-1259 passed by a vote of 43-18. < Back March 11, 2024 House Passes Bill to Prevent Price Gouging on Rent After a Disaster DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation that would prevent excessive increases in rent in the wake of a disaster. HB24-1259 passed by a vote of 43-18. “Many Coloradans saw rents skyrocket after the Marshall Fire, and those who had lost their homes were forced to juggle exorbitant rents while they tried to rebuild their lives,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Disasters, like wildfires, cause financial and emotional trauma, and no one deserves to be taken advantage of while they try to piece their life back together. This legislation adds essential protections for Coloradans so they don’t experience excessive rent increases in the aftermath of a disaster.” “After the Marshall Fire, hundreds of families suddenly had to find housing overnight because they lost everything they had, only to experience huge increases in rent because of the influx of renters in the market,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Disasters devastate communities and have a ripple effect on neighboring communities that now must house Coloradans post-disaster. This consumer protection legislation reigns in price-gouging of rent for a two-year period after a declared disaster, preventing disaster survivors from being taken advantage of." HB24-1259 would help protect Coloradans who have lost their home in a natural disaster from being taken advantage of by price gouging in rent. After a Governor- or Presidential-declared disaster that reduces the availability of housing, rent increases would be capped at the greater of 10% or the percentage rent increase in the previous year within the declared area for two years. The bill would make it a deceptive trade practice to price gouge when providing rental housing during this two-year period, allowing the Attorney General or a district attorney to pursue enforcement actions, including civil penalties, under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. Affected tenants would also be able to pursue civil action for violations. Previous Next

< Back April 9, 2019 FROELICH’S BILL TO INCREASE NATIONAL GUARD TUITION BENEFITS AT CSU-GLOBAL PASSES UNANIMOUSLY Since 2018, CSU-Global has graduated over 18,000 students (Apr. 9) – Rep. Meg Froelich’s bipartisan bill to allow Colorado State University’s Global Campus to offer students who are National Guard Members tuition benefits unanimously passed in the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs committee. Currently, CSU-Global students cannot seek financial aid or receive tuition benefits through the National Guard’s state statute as an institution for which the National Guard members can utilize their tuition benefits. “CSU-Global is a really good fit for National Guard members because CSU-Global is designed to serve non-traditional students. Many of our National Guard members travel outside of the country to keep us all secured and safe,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “Giving our troops the ability to utilize their tuition benefits at CSU-Global will allow them to serve while also working to complete their higher education.” Nearly 40 percent of CSU-Global students are Colorado residents who reside in 63 out of the 64 counties in the state. Roughly 15 percent of those students are military affiliated. “I have a CSU-Global campus in my district and I want to help those students be successful on their path to higher education while they continue serving our great state,” Rep. Froelich added. SB19-194 unanimously passed in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

< Back March 25, 2021 MCLACHLAN BILL KICKS OFF COLORADO COMEBACK Proposal would save thousands of Colorado educators money in license fee renewals DENVER, CO– The House Education Committee today unanimously advanced Representative Barbara McLachlan’s bipartisan bill to extend the duration for professional educator licenses from five to seven years, to include current five-year licenses that are partially completed. The bill is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $700 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. It is the first bill from the package to be considered in the House. “By extending the license renewal period, we’re ensuring that nearly 40,000 educators across the state don’t have to worry about license fees while they have so much else on their plate,” said House Education Chair Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “Colorado’s educators have been through the wringer this past year, and as a former teacher myself I know how far a few extra dollars can go during difficult times. Easing some of the many burdens on our educators is a simple way to help build back a stronger Colorado.” HB21-1104 would extend the renewal period for professional educator licenses from five to seven years, without lowering the standards or requirements for licensure. This includes teacher, special services educator, principal, and administrator licenses. The bill would apply to educators who are partially through their current five-year licensing cycle and ensure that those teachers who are approaching the end of the renewal cycle will not have to worry about renewing their license for another two years. Rep. McLachlan’s bill passed the committee by a vote of 9-0. Previous Next

< Back May 27, 2020 HOUSE PASSES RESOLUTION TO ALLOW REMOTE VOTING DENVER, CO — The House today passed a resolution, sponsored by Majority Leader Alec Garnett and Reps. Adrienne Benavidez and Brianna Titone, to allow the Speaker to change House rules to allow for remote participation in the House during a declared public health disaster emergency. The measure would allow Representatives who are at high-risk of severe complications from COVID-19 to represent their constituents without risking their lives. The resolution passed by a vote of 38-24. “As we return to the legislature, House Democrats are focused on taking responsible steps to get our state and our economy back on track,” said Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “This resolution will allow members who have serious public health concerns to perform the duties of their office without putting their lives at risk, and I’m proud to see it pass today.” “Democracy can not be put on hold, even during a pandemic,” said Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Brighton. “The voters knew what they were doing when they chose their Representatives, and their decision must be respected by this chamber by allowing them to participate without risking their lives. This resolution will allow for exactly that.” “Unprecedented times call for innovative solutions, and that’s exactly what this resolution represents,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “Remote participation will allow lawmakers to represent their communities without risking their lives so we can responsibly pass legislation that helps Coloradans get back to work safely, supports hardworking families and small businesses, and protects our communities.” HR20-1002 authorizes the Speaker of the House to promulgate regulations to allow members of the House to participate remotely in the legislative proceedings of the House in the event of a declared public health emergency. It does not allow for a rule change that would enable participation in committees. Under this resolution, members participating remotely would be counted as being physically present during House proceedings and any action taken by a member participating remotely has the same legal effect as if the member were physically present. At least 15 other states have passed resolutions allowing for remote legislative participation, and several more have authorized changes in legislative proceedings in response to COVID-19. Previous Next