Bill to create three day waiting period advances < Back March 6, 2023 Legislation to Save Lives and Prevent Gun Violence Passes Committee Bill to create three day waiting period advances DENVER, CO - The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation to save lives and reduce gun violence by creating a minimum three day waiting period to delay immediate access to a firearm. It passed by a vote of 7-4. “Waiting periods save lives by creating an opportunity to intervene or connect people who may be considering self harm or violence with care that can help them,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder . “I know from personal experience how a waiting period can prevent self harm. My son tried to purchase a firearm with the intent of committing suicide, and only our urgent action to try to stop the sale after I saw the transaction on his bank account saved his life. While no single bill will stop our epidemic of gun violence, common sense solutions like waiting periods, which are supported by data and evidence, will save lives.” “This legislation is one of many steps we’re taking this year to reduce gun violence in our communities and save lives,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “Waiting periods are effective, with research showing that these laws reduce firearm homicide rates by up to 17 percent. Improving public safety is a priority for Colorado Democrats, and addressing the public health crisis that is gun violence in our state will help Coloradans feel safer no matter where they are.” Research shows that creating a waiting period for purchasing a firearm has led to a 7 to 11 percent reduction in suicides by firearm and a 17 percent reduction in firearm-related homicides. In 2020, Colorado had the seventh highest suicide rate in the US, and in 2021, there were 740 suicides by firearm in Colorado, accounting for more than half of all suicides in the state. From 2014 to 2019 , the number of firearm deaths in Colorado was greater than deaths from motor vehicle crashes and opioid overdoses. Among firearm deaths, more than 75 percent were caused by intentional self-harm or suicide. Current law mandates that a background check is complete before a firearm can be transferred. Background checks can typically take less than three days to complete. HB23-1219 would require a gun purchaser to wait three days from the initiation of the background check or an approved background check, whichever is later, until they could be in possession of their newly purchased gun. Creating a waiting period delays immediate access to firearms and can help prevent impulsive acts of violence, including suicides, homicides and assaults. Transferring a firearm prior to the expiration of the waiting period would be a civil infraction punishable by a $500 fine for the first offense, and a $500 to $5,000 fine for a second or any subsequent offenses. The bill would not apply to antique firearms or to sales taking place between an active duty military servicemember, who is set to deploy overseas, and their family. Previous Next

Majority Leader Monica Duran will receive the Carpenters Tool Bag Award this evening from the Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters to celebrate her advocacy to prevent wage theft. < Back December 13, 2023 Majority Leader Duran to Receive Award for Advocacy Against Wage Theft Denver, CO – Majority Leader Monica Duran will receive the Carpenters Tool Bag Award this evening from the Southwest Mountain States Regional Council of Carpenters to celebrate her advocacy to prevent wage theft. “Coloradans rely on every dollar they earned to afford their rent, groceries, and other necessities, and wage theft makes it even more difficult for Coloradans to afford their bills,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “I’m honored to receive this award celebrating the laws we’ve passed to ensure Coloradans receive the money they’ve earned and to hold violators accountable. I am committed to continue championing workers’ rights to ensure that Colorado has the protections our workers deserve.” Majority Leader Duran sponsored SB22-161 , ensuring Colorado workers are able to recover legally-earned wages. The law also modernizes Colorado’s wage enforcement procedures by streamlining the enforcement of wage theft laws and expanding the Department of Labor and Employment’s ability to investigate wage violators. She also voted to approve a 2019 law that makes withholding or stealing wages a criminal offense. A 2022 report by the Colorado Fiscal Institute found that nearly 440,000 low-wage Colorado workers experience $728 million in wage theft annually. Workers of color and women are most likely to be victims of wage theft, and the most common industries for wage theft are retail, construction, and food service. Wage theft can include not paying workers minimum wage, non-payment of wages, misclassifying workers as independent contractors or as management to avoid paying overtime and taking tips that were meant for the employees. Previous Next

The House Health and Human Services Committee yesterday passed a bill to improve non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for Medicaid patients and drivers. < Back April 1, 2026 ICYMI: Stewart Bill to Provide Safe, Reliable Transportation for Patients Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health and Human Services Committee yesterday passed a bill to improve non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for Medicaid patients and drivers. HB26-1328 would improve patient experience and strengthen oversight in the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HPCF). “We’re taking clear steps to improve NEMT in Colorado, so patients have access to safe, reliable transportation for their medical appointments,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “This bipartisan bill establishes necessary accountability measures within HPCF to reduce fraud and protect patients. In rural districts like mine, NEMT is a vital resource to patients, and no one should have to miss health care because their transportation fell through. Our goal is to improve patient safety and health outcomes for Coloradans by strengthening NEMT and ensuring the transportation services are being utilized by the patients who need them.” HB26-1328 passed by a vote of 13-0 and is also sponsored by Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, R-Trinidad. This bill would create a new advisory board that would be required to collaborate with the transportation brokers to establish rules and processes that prioritize patient and driver safety. To strengthen patient safety, NEMT transportation providers would be required to maintain auditable electronic trip records, including patient pick-up and drop-off locations, GPS location data with time stamps, mileage traveled, and driver identification. Video camera footage may also be audited when patient privacy and confidentiality guidelines are followed. HB26-1328 also helps NEMT transportation providers by requiring changes in billing procedures to be clear, limited, and communicated to drivers. Brokers will be allowed to work with patients to schedule rides in advance and with adequate accommodation. To make ride scheduling seamless for patients, this bill allows patients to schedule both one-time and recurring rides, request a specific transportation provider, and have their preferences documented for auditing purposes. To ensure ambulances can continue responding quickly to emergencies, they would be exempt from the new requirements of this bill. Rideshare companies that choose to participate in NEMT will be required to follow guidelines. Previous Next

The House today passed two bills to protect Colorado’s public lands < Back April 30, 2025 Bills to Protect Colorado’s Public Lands Pass House DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bills to protect Colorado’s public lands. HB25-1332 would improve conservation and stewardship of public lands. HB25-1292 would preserve habitats by reducing the environmental impact of essential infrastructure. "Expanding our electric transmission infrastructure is one of the most important actions to successfully transition to a clean and vibrant carbon-neutral economy,” said Rep. Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of HB25-1292. “This bill makes sure that Colorado can meet the need for new and upgraded electric transmission lines while protecting habitats and wildlife.” “Colorado’s clean energy future depends on modern, efficient infrastructure,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, sponsor of HB25-1292. “This bill helps streamline the placement of high-voltage transmission lines within the right-of-way for state highways. This will accelerate project timelines while reducing disruption to communities and the environment. By establishing a clear and responsible permitting process, we’re supporting a safer, more sustainable transition to clean energy.” HB25-1292 passed the House by a vote of 45-20. This bill would streamline and codify the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) processes for transmission developers that are considering installing and maintaining essential high-voltage transmission lines (powerlines) along state highways. HB25-1292 aims to create a sustainable pathway for installing and maintaining this essential infrastructure that reduces environmental impact. Co-locating transmission lines along highways can significantly reduce impacts on wildlife and habitat compared to building new lines through greenfield areas When a transmission developer and CDOT pursue the placement of transmission along a state highway right-of-way, the developer would be responsible for outlining mitigation strategies for impacted communities, habitats and wildlife. It is estimated that Colorado needs more than $4 billion of additional transmission investment to meet demand and reach our state’s climate goals. “From recreation to agriculture, our public trust lands play a major role in Colorado’s economy, climate resiliency and habitat conservation,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of HB25-1332. “This bill would help uncover new opportunities for stronger stewardship of our public trust lands while continuing to financially support our schools through long-term funding.” HB25-1332 passed the House by a vote of 43-22. Currently, the Colorado State Land Board (SLB) oversees most of Colorado’s trust lands, including state parks. This bill would establish a formal working group process to identify opportunities to improve and enhance conservation, agricultural operations, and outdoor recreation on state trust lands. There are more than 2.8 million surface acres and 4 million subsurface acres, such as lakes, caves and rivers, overseen by the Colorado SLB. Next year is the 150th anniversary of Colorado and the SLB. This bill aims to uncover challenges and opportunities to advance conservation, agricultural leasing programs, wildlife habitat, climate resiliency and low-conflict recreation. HB25-1332 requires the working group to include participation from Colorado’s Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Tribes, rural schools, and renewable energy organizations, among others. Previous Next

The House Education Committee passed two bills today. < Back January 29, 2026 House Education Committee Passes Two Bills to Save Students Money and Support Rural Schools DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee passed two bills today. HB26-1016 would save college students and professors money on education materials, and HB26-1027 would address school staffing shortages in rural or smaller school districts. “Our bill saves college students and instructors money by making high-quality education materials, such as textbooks, available and easily accessible at no cost,” said Rep. Jacque Phillips, D-Thornton, sponsor of HB26-1016. “This legislation ensures the state develops and implements open educational resources to reduce barriers to a well-rounded education and support our higher education professors and students alike.” HB26-1016 , also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, would help college students and professors access no-cost education materials, known as open education resources (OER). OERs include free and openly-licensed teaching, learning and research materials, such as textbooks and videos. OERs save students money, help reduce barriers to high-quality education and spur innovation. HB26-1016 passed committee by a vote of 11-2. This bill continues the development and tracks the implementation of OERs in higher education institutions in Colorado, including the number of classes that use no-cost textbooks. The bill also expands the number of professionals on the open educational resources council, which helps develop Colorado’s OERs to include more librarians and professionals from higher education institutions. “We’ve taken bold action under the gold dome to support our schools, teachers and students, especially those in rural and underserved districts,” said Rep. Tammy Story, D-Conifer, sponsor of HB26-1027. “This legislation allows Board of Cooperative Services (BOCES) executive directors to support our rural and smaller schools and address public education educator shortages without losing their retirement benefits. These retired administrators have specialized lived experience and wisdom, and this bill ensures they can continue to share their talents with Colorado students.” “We’re looking at every avenue to support our rural schools and help address the educator shortage,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango, sponsor of HB26-1027 . “This bill makes it easier for retired BOCES executive directors to return to the classroom, without risking their retirement benefits. In rural communities like mine, it can be difficult to recruit and retain new school administrators, teachers, and support staff. This bill makes sure retired BOCES executive directors can re-enter the workforce and support their local schools.” HB26-1027 would help support Colorado schools by allowing a retired Board of Cooperative Services (BOCES) executive director to re-enter the schools without losing their retirement benefits. Under this bill, BOCES executive directors would join a list of specific education-related positions, including teachers, paraprofessionals, food service professionals, and bus drivers, who can fill vacant positions in local schools without the risk of losing their Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) benefits. BOCES exist to support rural or smaller school districts in Colorado by allowing multiple school districts to combine resources and share staff. HB26-1027 passed committee by a vote of 13-0. Previous Next

HB25-1291 would establish the strongest ride-share regulations in the nation to keep riders safe < Back April 16, 2025 Willford, Froelich Bill to Improve Ride Share Safety Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed a bill to create new safety requirements for transportation network companies (TNCs), including Uber and Lyft. HB25-1291 passed the House by a vote of 59-6. “This bill isn’t just about what happened to me – it’s about the thousands of survivors who have endured so much pain and suffering because ride-share companies aren’t doing enough to keep riders and drivers safe,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “The person who sexually assaulted me during a Lyft ride was borrowing another driver’s account. To this day, I’m not sure if his account is still active. Our bill establishes important safety standards for ride-share companies, including regular background checks, audio and video recording and barring drivers who were previously charged with serious crimes.” “Between 2017 and 2022, more than 15,000 riders were sexually assaulted during an Uber or Lyft ride. While this number is staggering, we know the real number is likely much higher, and more must be done to protect riders and drivers,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “This bill aims to improve safety by requiring ride-share companies to respond to complaints within 48 hours and disclose the number of assaults and complaints that happened on their watch every year. We’re serious about improving rider safety, and the passage of this bill is a step in the right direction.” The bill creates new safety requirements for TNCs and their drivers. This bill would require: Enhanced background checks Ride-share companies must procure and pay for privately administered background checks on drivers every six months. Stronger driver vetting and clear disqualifications Drivers with a history of convictions for assault, harassment, kidnapping, menacing, domestic violence, or impersonating a driver would be barred from driving with a ride-share company. If a driver is barred from one ride-share company for serious safety concerns, they would be barred from all TNCs. Audio and video recording for all rides to improve All rides will need to have audio and video recording from pick-up to drop-off. Improved transparency and accountability If a driver is convicted or enters a plea, they must notify the TNC within 48 hours of the conviction TNCs must provide annual reports to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the Attorney General’s Office and legislative committees. These reports must include the number of assaults, harassment complaints, discrimination complaints and accidents. Additionally, TNCs would need to establish certain polices that: Prevent account sharing, imposter accounts and driver impersonation Ensure the safe transport of minors Prohibit free or paid food and beverages during rides Educate drivers on new safety polices Place those accused of serious crimes on probationary status while their case is being reviewed. More than 15,500 Uber and Lyft riders and drivers were sexually assaulted between 2017 and 2022. This number only represents the number of sexual assaults that were reported. On average, only 30 percent of sexual assaults are reported. In March, a former Lyft driver in Denver was sentenced to 290 years in prison for charges related to kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault of more than a dozen women over four years. Previous Next

Legislation would promote responsible gun ownership, safe storage of firearms in vehicles < Back March 13, 2024 Legislation to Reduce Gun Thefts from Vehicles Passes Committee Legislation would promote responsible gun ownership, safe storage of firearms in vehicles DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to help prevent firearms from being stolen in cars by requiring them to be secured while unattended in a vehicle. HB24-1348 passed by a vote of 7-3. “As a rural legislator from the Western Slope, I know that so many gun owners value proper training and safety, and that includes safe storage," said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. "It’s just common sense to protect valuable property and to keep our communities safe. This bill has broad support from experienced gun owners. I look forward to continuing to improve gun violence prevention measures in Colorado.” “Guns are more likely to be stolen from a car than a house, yet Colorado does not have any laws that require guns to be properly secured when stored in a car," said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. "Our legislation would require guns to be locked in a safe storage container and hidden when left in a vehicle so they can’t be easily accessible during a break-in. This will save countless lives and prevent stolen, untraceable firearms from being found at crime scenes.” HB24-1348 would require firearms in unattended vehicles to be stored in locked containers that are out of plain view to help prevent them from being stolen. The bill would also require the Office of Suicide Prevention to include information for vehicle safe storage on its website and include vehicle safe storage information that must be displayed at gun stores. Antique firearms, peace officers, military service members and people engaged in hunting are exempted from this law. According to the Denver Police Department, 846 of the 1,221 guns that were reported as being stolen were stolen from vehicles in 2023. Of those stolen firearms, 61% were stolen without stealing the vehicle itself. Data from 2020 found that Grand Junction, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs had the highest rates of gun thefts from cars in Colorado. Colorado Democrats passed a 2021 law that promotes responsible gun ownership by requiring gun owners to properly store their firearms when they are not in use, especially when children are present. The law also requires licensed firearms dealers to provide a locking device at the time of sale or transfer of all firearms. Federal law already requires that handguns sold by licensed dealers be sold with locking devices. Finally, the law created the charge “unlawful storage of a firearm” when a firearm is not stored safely and a juvenile or someone who is ineligible to possess a firearm is present, making it a class 2 misdemeanor. Previous Next

HB26-1424 would keep riders and drivers safe by requiring stronger policies and reporting for TNCs < Back April 30, 2026 Colorado Rideshare Safety and Accountability Act Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed legislation to establish new safety requirements for transportation network companies (TNCs), including Uber and Lyft. The Colorado Rideshare Safety & Accountability Act would require more frequent background checks and crack down on imposter accounts. “We need the Colorado Rideshare Safety & Accountability Act to establish new policies to keep riders and drivers safe,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Our bill cracks down on imposter or shared accounts and requires driver background checks every six months. Accountability matters, and rideshare companies would be required to provide an annual report of all the crimes, including sexual assaults, that happen on their watch. Rideshares are integrated into our daily lives, but we need to do more to ensure riders and drivers arrive at their destination safely.” “Far too many sexual assaults are happening in rideshares, and it’s important we establish better guidelines to protect riders and drivers,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “When a rider requests a rideshare, they shouldn't have to worry if they’ll get to their destination safely. Our important bill works to address some of the persistent safety concerns with rideshares, including stronger driver vetting, clear disqualifications and more transparency about the crimes that happen in Colorado rideshares.” The Colorado Rideshare Safety & Accountability Act ( HB26-1424 ) would establish new safety requirements and policies designed to keep riders and drivers safe. The bill would apply to large-scale rideshare companies with more than 1,500 drivers and does not apply to HopSkipDrive. HB26-1424 passed committee by a vote of 8-5. More frequent background checks TNCs must procure privately administered background checks on drivers every six months after the initial criminal history record check. Crackdown on imposter, shared and rented accounts To help prevent multiple drivers from operating under one account, this bill would require TNCs to develop and enforce a company policy against impostor drivers, account sharing, and account renting. Stronger driver vetting and clear disqualifications Drivers with a history of convictions for assault, harassment, kidnapping, menacing, stalking, or domestic violence, or who had previously been caught account sharing, would be barred from driving with a rideshare company. If a driver is barred by one rideshare company for serious safety concerns, they would be barred from driving for all TNCs operating in Colorado. Audio and video recording Riders and drivers would have the option of opting in to audio and video recording from pick-up to drop-off. Audio and video recording software must be integrated into the TNC platform, and TNCs cannot raise fares on riders solely on the basis of opting in to audio or video recording. No third-party recording devices would be allowed. Robust complaint procedures and survivor updates If a rider submits a complaint to a TNC about their driver, the TNC must provide up-to-date information to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to investigate complaints. Additionally, the TNC must respond to a complaint-related subpoena or search warrant within 72 hours. Survivors may also opt in to receive updates about their complaint. If a complaint is filed against a driver, the TNC must procure a new background check before the driver can drive again. Improved transparency and accountability TNCs must provide annual reports to the PUC, the Attorney General’s Office and every member of the general assembly. These reports must include the number of homicides, assaults, verbal threats, and accidents, as well as any instances of stalking, harassment, theft and discrimination. The PUC may penalize a TNC that violates any provision of HB26-1424 up to $1,500 per violation. TNCs must provide ongoing driver and rider safety training based on rules adopted by the PUC. Additionally, TNCs would need to establish and enforce certain policies that: Prevent sex assault, physical assault and homicide. Prohibit the transportation of unaccompanied minors, unless they are part of an authorized family account. Require food and beverages offered during a ride to be factory-sealed. Educate drivers on new safety policies. Prevent crimes against drivers by riders. Do not allow the collection of any rider or driver biometric data. More than 15,500 Uber and Lyft riders and drivers were sexually assaulted between 2017 and 2022. This number only represents the number of sexual assaults that were reported. On average, only 30 percent of sexual assaults are reported. Countless instances of sexual assault have happened in Ubers and Lyfts in Colorado, including a former Denver Lyft driver sentenced to 290 years in prison last year for charges related to kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault of more than a dozen women over four years. In 2024, an Aurora Lyft driver was sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. Last week, an Arvada Uber driver was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault against a passenger. Arvada police believe there are likely more victims in this case, as the driver used multiple vehicles over his more than 1,000 rides. Previous Next

< Back February 27, 2020 REP. DONALD VALDEZ’S AMBER ALERT NOTIFICATION READINESS BILL ADVANCES UNANIMOUSLY DENVER, CO– The House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today voted unanimously to pass Representative Donald Valdez’s bill to ensure Colorado’s AMBER Alert notification system stays up to date with the latest telecommunications technology. The bipartisan bill has already passed the Senate unanimously. “AMBER Alerts help our law enforcement officials protect some of the most vulnerable Coloradans,” said Rep. Donald Valdez, D-La Jara. “It is critical that our state stays up to date with the latest technology to notify Coloradans during an AMBER Alert emergency, and this bill will do just that.” SB20-079 requires the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to send AMBER Alerts using technological applications that promote the largest reach of community notifications. While Colorado’s current method of sending AMBER Alerts meets the criteria, this bill will ensure that Colorado’s AMBER Alert system keeps up with technological advances in the future to ensure the widespread receival of these critical alerts of missing children. Previous Next

The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation to increase awareness of services, resources, and benefits for veterans. The bill passed in committee by a vote of 7-3. < Back February 8, 2024 Bill to Raise Awareness of Veterans Resources Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation to increase awareness of services, resources, and benefits for veterans. The bill passed in committee by a vote of 7-3. “Veterans disproportionately suffer from mental health struggles, and they should know there are plenty of services available to them,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “We’ve passed legislation in recent years to expand resources for veterans, but many people don’t know how to take advantage of these services. By sharing veteran resource information with employees, we can raise awareness of available resources to access mental health services, save them money, and other beneficial programs.” “There are a lot of resources out there for veterans that can help them find a job, access mental health care, and save them money, but they may not know that this information is available to them,” said Rep. Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo. “This bill would require this information to be available in Colorado workplaces, increasing awareness of the services available to veterans.” HB24-1110 would require businesses to create and distribute information about veterans’ services, resources, and benefits and post the information in the workplace if they have more than 50 employees. In recent years, the Colorado General Assembly has passed legislation to expand property tax exemptions for veterans with a disability ( HB23-1052 ), expand access to behavioral health services ( HB23-1088 ), continue state income tax deductions for military retirement benefits ( HB23-1084 ), and implement housing protections for veterans and active military members ( HB22-1102 ). Previous Next

The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie to identify steps the state can take to protect the Colorado River and all who rely on its water. The bill passed unanimously by 13 to 0. < Back May 3, 2023 Bipartisan Water Conservation Bill Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie to identify steps the state can take to protect the Colorado River and all who rely on its water. The bill passed unanimously by 13 to 0. “The Colorado River is the soul and spirit of our Western Slope communities,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Millions of Coloradans rely on the Colorado River for drinking water, recreation, and agricultural needs. Our bill creates a formal process to bring every voice to the table and will help identify tools that we can use to ensure we have the water we need for our communities to thrive and secure our future in the face of increasing demand on the river.” SB23-295 , also sponsored by Representative Marc Catlin, creates the Colorado River Drought Task Force. The task force would include representatives from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, regional water conservation districts, local governmental officials, agricultural producers, environmental non-profit organizations, and others that have diverse experience with complex water issues. By December of 2023, after an extensive stakeholding process open to public comment, the task force would make policy recommendations to the General Assembly to: Proactively address the impact of droughts on the Colorado River and its tributaries, Avoid disproportionate economic and environmental impacts to any one region of the state, Ensure that any program related to the acquisition of agricultural water rights is voluntary, temporary, and compensated, Assure meaningful collaboration among the Colorado River District, Southwestern Water Conservation District, and the State of Colorado in the design and implementation of drought security programs, and Evaluate sources of revenue for the acquisition of program water. A sub-task force consisting of representatives from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Department of Natural Resources would also be established to provide policy recommendations to the General Assembly to address tribal needs. These recommendations would consider the unique nature of tribal water rights and tribal water use. The Colorado River provides water to Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Mexico. Over 40 million people rely on the Colorado River for their water supply, and record-breaking heatwaves and droughts in the Southwestern US have only exacerbated water conservation issues. SB23-295 will rely on water experts and relevant stakeholders to provide effective solutions to the General Assembly so our state can protect the Colorado River through meaningful collaboration with local voices and without disproportionate impacts on certain regions of the state. Previous Next

< Back July 2, 2021 LANDMARK ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LEGISLATION SIGNED DENVER, CO– Governor Polis today signed HB21-1266, Representatives Dominique Jackson and Mike Weissman’s bill to promote environmental justice in Colorado and help our state meet our emissions reduction goals. “Environmental Justice means making sure that our solutions to tackling climate change acknowledge and address the systemic disparities of years of pollution and the impacts of climate change,” said Representative Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora. “This new law takes concrete steps to help us improve air quality and meet our emissions reductions goals while giving disproportionately impacted communities a seat at the table where these decisions are being made. With these new steps, Colorado will set an example for the nation on how best to address pollution and climate change in a holistic and just way.” “Today marks an important step toward guaranteeing true environmental justice in Colorado,” said Representative Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Communities of color, low income Coloradans and other groups uniquely affected by pollution and the effects of climate change deserve to have their voices heard and their needs met as we work toward cleaner air and a greener state. I’m enormously proud of and grateful for the tireless advocacy and hard work that was required to make this new law a reality.” HB21-1266 supports communities that have been disproportionately impacted by pollution by creating the Environmental Justice Advisory Board and Ombudsperson within the Department of Public Health and Environment. The law eliminates the “polluter pay loophole” that exempts greenhouse gas emissions from pollution fees, and directs the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) to update permitting requirements for sources that affect disproportionately impacted communities, and requires electric utilities to file clean energy plans with the Public Utilities Commission. Utilities with significant emissions are required to reduce emissions at least 80% by 2030, the oil and gas sector is required to reduce emissions by 36% by 2025 and 60% by 2030 and the industrial and manufacturing sectors are required to reduce emissions by at least 20% by 2030. The law also codifies outreach best practices to impacted communities and requires the development of a comprehensive, statewide environmental justice plan. Previous Next