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< Back February 13, 2023 Titone Statement on Defeated Anti-Trans Bill DENVER, CO – Representative Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, today released the following statement on anti-trans legislation defeated by Democrats on the State, Civic, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee: “It is infuriating that trans people, their families and allies must come to the Capitol to advocate against legislation that targets our community just months after a shooter attacked LGBTQ Coloradans at Club Q – violence incited in part by dangerous rhetoric elevated by politicians with platforms. While Colorado is long past being known as ‘the hate state,’ GOP lawmakers continue to sponsor dangerous legislation that would harm trans youth. Laws like these give legitimacy to the hateful rhetoric and increase bullying, physical assaults on trans youth, and rates of suicide and self harm. “Across the country, Republican-led state legislatures are attacking LGBTQ people and passing laws that endanger trans lives by legislating away their existence. From furries in classrooms to claims of voter fraud, discredited conspiracies are fueling Republican bills that are nothing more than solutions in search of problems that don’t exist. We won’t let them pass in Colorado. House Democrats will continue to govern responsibly, focus on the most pressing needs in our communities, and defend our freedoms and democracy.” Previous Next

< Back September 27, 2021 HOUSE AND SENATE DEMS RELEASE POWERING THE COMEBACK RESOURCE GUIDE DENVER, CO – House and Senate Democrats today released the Powering the Comeback Resource Guide to help Coloradans, businesses, nonprofits, local governments and education providers access the funding, services and programs created through the 2021 Colorado Comeback State Stimulus Plan , as well as initial investments made from the federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, which together invested roughly $1.3 billion to uplift struggling families, support small businesses, redevelop our workforce and revitalize our economy. “Our top priority in the 2021 session was to provide direct support for the small businesses, individuals and local governments that were ravaged by the pandemic,” said House Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver . “I’m proud to say we delivered on this priority, and now we’re working hard to ensure the aid reaches those who need it most. From individuals to institutions of higher education, and from small businesses to nonprofits, there’s a program available for everyone in this resource guide.” “After a year of devastation, we entered 2021 with a plan to meet the moment and deliver for Coloradans. Thanks to the successful passage of our Colorado Comeback state stimulus plan, we were able to achieve those goals,” said Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo . “Today, we’re thrilled to launch this helpful resource guide that will assist Colorado families, workers, educators, businesses, nonprofits and others as they navigate the resources and funding opportunities we secured for them this session.” “The resource guide we’re unveiling today includes everything from watershed restoration grants that protect our most precious resource to workforce development programs that will help Coloradans find sustainable, fulfilling careers,” said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo . “I’m immensely proud of the work we did this year to help build our state back stronger, and I’m excited to see these new opportunities become available for businesses, local governments and families across the state. I encourage anyone looking for assistance to look through the guide and find the program that’s right for them.” “Coloradans have been through a lot over the last year, and we know they are looking to us for support,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder. “As part of our ongoing economic recovery, we’re excited to provide additional tools and resources to help our communities get the vital support they need. With the help of this resource guide, Coloradans will conveniently be able to access the services and grant opportunities available to them that will help them recover and build back stronger.” During the 2021 legislative session, House and Senate Democrats passed a historic stimulus package to boost Colorado’s economy and help the state recover faster from the COVID-19 pandemic. These new programs are now offering services, funding and other supports across Colorado. The Powering the Comeback Resource Guide , which will continue to be updated, is intended to serve as a tool to connect Coloradans with these newly-created programs. The resources and programs in the guide are organized by individuals, businesses, non profits, agricultural producers, early childhood, school districts and higher education, and local governments. Previous Next

< Back March 23, 2019 MCLACHLAN INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL ON FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN McLachlan-Wilson bill will help invest in Colorado’s future (Mar. 22) – Rep. Barbara McLachlan and Rep. Jim Wilson, R-Salida introduced a bipartisan bill to fund full-day kindergarten for Colorado’s youngest learners. The budget from the Joint Budget Committee proposes funding full-day kindergarten in a responsible, sustainable manner. “I am excited to introduce this bipartisan bill that will help our state’s youngest learners, especially in our rural communities, ” said Rep. McLachlan, chair of the House Education committee. “As a former teacher I understand the benefits of full-day kindergarten and the importance of investing in our children’s future. I couldn’t be prouder to sponsor this legislation because of the profound benefits it will reap for the hardworking families of our state for many years to come.” “This is great news for kids and parents across Colorado. Full-day kindergarten will help invest in young learners and break down barriers,” said Majority Leader Alec Garnett. “Our kids and our state can’t wait. Let’s get this done and start investing in our most precious resource – the next generation of Coloradans.” Many young students lack access to full-day kindergarten but the research shows they will benefit from this learning experience. While Colorado schools have increased access to full day kindergarten over time despite inadequate funding, there are still 14,000 children without access to this important educational resource. Those who lack access often face some of the steepest obstacles to affording the tuition that is charged in many districts or live in communities that cannot afford to cut resources from other parts of the K-12 budget to offer a free full-day experience. Increased state funding would help open doors to a research-proven strategy to improve children’s academic and life success. An added benefit of funding full-day kindergarten is the complementary freeing up of slots in the Colorado Preschool Program for young learners. The text of HB19-1262 can be found here. Previous Next

< Back July 11, 2020 JOINT RELEASE: WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS SIGNED INTO LAW Denver, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed new legislation into law to help Colorado safely reopen by protecting workers from retaliation when they report workplace safety concerns. The bill was sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Tom Sullivan, and Senators Brittany Pettersen and Robert Rodriguez. “With ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks at workplaces in our state, we must empower workers to speak up to protect themselves and their colleagues,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “No one should be fired in Colorado for doing their part to help our state safely reopen or for protecting customers, workers or students from unsafe conditions.” “People need to feel safe going to their employers about workplace safety concerns,” said Sen. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood. “Unfortunately during the COVID outbreak, too many workers experienced retaliation when they spoke up. This new law will ensure that all Coloradans can return to work safely without being forced to choose between risking their life or losing their job.” “If we don’t keep our workforce safe, then more Coloradans will fall sick, and our economic recovery will leave behind those who are struggling the most,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “These whistleblower protections will help Coloradans stay safe at work, give employees the essential right to wear a mask and keep our economic recovery on track by reducing the number and frequency of COVID-19 outbreaks.” “In order for Colorado to continue safely reopening, we must ensure that workers’ voices are heard,” said Sen. Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “Businesses need to take seriously the concerns raised by their employees and not dismiss or punish those who come forward. This law will protect Coloradans and promote transparency and receptivity in the workplace. ” Until now, Colorado has had few state-level whistleblower protections, relying primarily on the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which can take years to process retaliation claims. HB20-1415 protects Colorado workers from retaliation when they raise concerns about the health and safety of their workplace to their employer, fellow coworkers, the public, or government agencies. The vast majority of businesses are being responsible and are working to keep people safe during this pandemic, but there are workers who have been fired simply because they raised concerns about safety procedures in their workplace. The new law grants workers the right to wear protective equipment, such as masks, to work, and it requires employers to inform employees of their rights to blow the whistle on unsafe conditions. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment will manage implementation and investigate complaints. Previous Next

< Back May 24, 2021 AG COMMITTEE ADVANCES RURAL COLORADO COMEBACK BILLS UNANIMOUSLY The Agriculture, Livestock, and Water Committee today advanced three State Stimulus proposals to support rural economies and small businesses, and invest in critical water projects. DENVER, CO– The House Agriculture, Livestock, and Water Committee today approved two bipartisan bills that are a part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The bills are focused on bolstering rural economies and restoring some of the damage that wildfires have caused to our watersheds. Both passed unanimously. “The Rural Jump Start program has a proven track record of success creating jobs and supporting small businesses in economically distressed areas and coal transition communities across rural Colorado,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, sponsor of SB21-229. “The funds we directed toward the Program today will make our rural economies and local communities stronger by boosting businesses that are starting up or need funds to grow.” SB21-229 , also sponsored by Minority Leader Hugh McKean, R-Loveland, invests $3 million in the Rural Jump Start Grant Program, which helps economically distressed communities – particularly communities that will be affected by the market transition away from coal to more renewable energy sources – attract new businesses and jobs. Of the grants available, new businesses can receive up to $20,000 for establishing operations in rural jump-start zones and up to $2,500 for each new job they create. While businesses establishing operations in coal transition communities (as identified in the Office of Just Transition Action Plan ) can receive up to $40,000 as well as up to $5,000 for each new job they create. The bills passed by a vote of 11-0. “Last year’s fire season was among the most destructive in the history of Colorado, and it took an unspeakable toll not only on homes and communities, but also on our forests and watersheds,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of SB21-240. “Through a robust investment in the Watershed Restoration and Flood Mitigation Grant Program, this bill helps us mitigate some of the worst effects of droughts and wildfire seasons so we can be better prepared for what’s to come.” SB21-240 , also sponsored by Ag Committee Vice Chair Marc Catlin, transfers $20 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for the Watershed Restoration and Flood Mitigation Grant Program to help watersheds recover from the impacts of wildfire. The bill also sets aside funds to conduct a statewide watershed analysis that investigates the susceptibility of life, safety, infrastructure, and water supplies to wildfire impacts. The bills passed by a vote of 11-0. Previous Next

< Back September 5, 2019 COLORADO’S CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE EXPECTED TO GROW 9% THIS YEAR Colorado House passed landmark legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and spur clean energy project DENVER, CO— The Advanced Energy Alliance today released a fact-sheet highlighting the significant growth expected this year in Colorado’s clean energy workforce. The trade group, made up of both large and small companies in the advanced energy economy, estimates that Colorado’s advanced energy workforce of over 65,000 people will grow by 9 percent this year. It attributed the growth to Colorado’s commitment to clean energy policies. Last session, the Colorado’s Democratic lawmakers passed numerous laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote clean energy and position our workforce to thrive in the green economy. “Colorado is leading the way in creating jobs in the clean energy economy because we’ve set ambitious goals and lowered the cost of using our state’s abundant renewable energy resources,” said Colorado House Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “Last session, we passed legislation to prioritize clean energy sources and reduce our state’s emissions by 90 percent by 2050, and we created innovative ways for utility companies to finance new clean energy projects. House Democrats will continue fighting to ensure every Coloradan has access to clean air and water and for an economy that works for everyone.” “Pollution impacts every Coloradan, which is why we are committed to taking meaningful action to protect the air we breathe, our environment and our public health,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson, Chair of the House Energy and Environment Committee. “The legislation we passed will help create new jobs in renewable energy generation, and it’s clear the future is bright for this critical industry.” Earlier today, Emilie Olson of Advanced Energy Economy, which supported many of the climate and clean energy bills that passed the House last session, said in a release that “Colorado’s forward-looking energy policies are paying off.” She added to the Denver Post that our state is “reaping dividends from its energy policies and investments.” Speaker Becker and Rep. Jackson were the prime sponsors of HB19-1261, a landmark climate legislation that established pollution reduction goals in state statute to reduce Colorado’s greenhouse gas pollution by 26 percent of 2005 levels by 2025, and ultimately by 90 percent by 2050. As market forces and innovative policies change the state’s energy economy, state Democrats are also working to support the people impacted. Last Spring, the governor signed HB19-1314, Speaker Becker’s legislation to create the Office of Just Transition in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to support the livelihood and economic security of workers and communities affected by the transition away from coal. Speaker Becker and Representative Chris Hansen, D-Denver, were also the prime sponsors of SB19-236, which was signed by Governor Polis. The new law established a financing mechanism to help utility companies retire coal-fired power plants quicker in order to transition to more renewable sources of energy generation. In addition, the bill directed the Public Utility Commission to evaluate the cost of carbon pollution emissions when considering projects in the future. Previous Next

The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed bipartisan legislation aimed to prevent suicides by regulating sales of sodium nitrite products. The bill passed unanimously by a vote of 10-0. < Back January 25, 2024 Amabile Suicide Prevention Bill Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed bipartisan legislation aimed to prevent suicides by regulating sales of sodium nitrite products. The bill passed unanimously by a vote of 10-0. “It is far too easy for people to access sodium nitrite products, which has unfortunately contributed to many suicide deaths in Colorado,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Suicide by sodium nitrite is becoming increasingly common, and hundreds of sodium nitrite-related suicides have been linked to a single private seller. Regulating sodium nitrite purchases will prevent suicide across our state, saving countless Colorado lives.” Sodium nitrite “suicide kits” are easily accessible online and have been reported to be used by Colorado residents, especially youth, in recent years. Websites that sell these kits often have step-by-step instructions on how to use sodium nitrite to commit suicide. HB24-1081 , also sponsored by Representative Marc Catlin, would regulate the sale or transfer of products that contain 10 percent or greater of sodium nitrite. Sellers would be required to verify that commercial businesses require the product before a transaction could be made, and records of sales or transfers must be kept for three years. Violators could see $10,000 in civil penalties for a first violation, with up to $1 million for a second violation. Previous Next

Legislation would stand up health care programs at higher education institutions in Greeley, Fort Collins, Denver and Trinidad < Back February 28, 2024 Bill to Create Northern Colorado Medical School and to Boost Health Care Training Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation to help create a new medical college at University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and support health care and veterinary care at various higher education institutions across the state. HB24-1231, sponsored by Representatives Mary Young and Lindsey Daugherty, would help address health care workforce shortages in Colorado. “This monumental legislation will help fund and facilitate a new college of osteopathic medicine at UNC, which is key to addressing Colorado’s shortage of primary care physicians in our rural and underserved communities” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “We’ve been hard at work to tackle our state’s health care workforce shortage and this landmark legislation jumpstarts the creation of a new medical school in Greeley, a Veterinary Health Education Complex in Fort Collins and two other health care programs at MSU Denver and Trinidad State College.” “From nurses to veterinarians, Colorado is experiencing a critical health care workforce shortage that’s affecting the health and well-being of Coloradans,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty. “This groundbreaking bill helps Colorado train and educate future doctors, veterinarians and other health care providers in Colorado. I’m proud to champion this bill that will increase access to high-quality health care in communities across the state and help Coloradans and their animals lead safe, healthy lives.” HB24-1231 , which passed committee by a vote of 12-1, would stand up four projects related to health sciences education programs for medical professions. Specifically, the legislation would fund the: Construction of a new College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) Construction of the Health Institute Tower at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) Construction of the Veterinary Health Education Complex at Colorado State University (CSU) Renovation of the Valley Campus Main Building at Trinidad State College This legislation will jumpstart a second-of-its-kind medical program at UNC, which will help streamline 150 new osteopathic doctors into the workforce each year and help address primary health care needs of Coloradans. The UNC College of Osteopathic Medicine is expected to generate $1.4 billion over the next 20 years in economic impact, with an estimated $500 million of economic impact to remain in Weld County. The legislation will also provide funding to help higher education institutions train more nurses, veterinarians and other mid-level health care professionals. Colorado is facing a significant health care provider shortage that is causing lapses in care, longer wait times, and limited critical-care services in both rural and urban communities. HB24-1231 is the state’s largest higher education investment aimed at bolstering the state’s health care workforce so Coloradans can receive the health care they need, when they need it. Previous Next

< Back May 25, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: COMPREHENSIVE FENTANYL BILL SIGNED INTO LAW Bipartisan legislation significantly increases penalties on dealers and invests in proven public health solutions to save lives DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed comprehensive, bipartisan legislation sponsored by House Speaker Alec Garnett and Senators Brittany Pettersen and John Cooke to combat the fentanyl crisis and save lives. “This law is a bold response deploying both public safety and public health approaches to combat Colorado’s fentanyl crisis and save countless lives from this deadly drug,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “This comprehensive plan cracks down on dealers peddling this poison in our communities and invests in proven public health strategies to prevent overdoses and deaths. For months, we worked with law enforcement, public health experts, Democrats and Republicans to craft this law, and it’s a major step forward toward saving lives.” “We are in the third wave of the opioid epidemic and in the worst overdose crisis in the history of this country. Fentanyl is the drug of choice for the cartels because it’s potent, cheap and easy to traffic,” said Senator Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood . “We need to go after the dealers who are poisoning our communities and provide training and resources to better equip law enforcement to investigate fentanyl poisonings while increasing access to desperately needed treatment and life-saving harm reduction tools. This law is about saving lives with a comprehensive public health and public safety approach, and will complement the work we’re doing to fix our broken behavioral health system throughout Colorado.” HB22-1326 is a comprehensive approach that includes both proven public health solutions and enhanced criminal penalties targeting dealers to save lives and get fentanyl off Colorado streets. The bill will strengthen criminal penalties on individuals who are distributing fentanyl and bringing it into our state. In line with other models for substance use convictions, the bill will also integrate mandatory substance use disorder (SUD) assessments and treatment into the state’s sentencing to help ensure people get the treatment they need. The bill focuses on compound fentanyl – fentanyl mixed with other drugs or substances – which is by far the most prominent form of fentanyl found in Colorado. It will provide law enforcement with additional tools to go after dealers while providing treatment options to individuals with substance use disorders. Individuals who are dealing fentanyl will face increased felony charges, and if the defendant has distributed any amount of fentanyl and it leads to someone’s death, they can be charged with a level one drug felony and face the drug code’s strongest penalties. The bill also gives law enforcement tools to require treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder. Defendants in possession of any amount of fentanyl compound will be assessed for a substance use disorder and required to complete an education program developed by the Behavioral Health Administration in CDPHE. Individuals assessed as having a substance use disorder will have to complete mandatory treatment. HB22-1326 makes it a felony to possess more than one gram of fentanyl compound/mixture while creating legal guardrails for individuals who genuinely did not know they were in possession of this deadly drug. The new language says that if a defendant can successfully argue that they made “a reasonable mistake of fact,” then they will be sentenced with the lesser charge – a level one drug misdemeanor rather than a felony. The new felony, which is not prison eligible, also includes what is known as a “wobbler” provision that allows individuals who successfully complete treatment to have the felony moved down to a misdemeanor on their record. Additionally, once Colorado’s labs have the ability to test for the percentage of fentanyl within a compound, this bill turns on a no tolerance policy for the possession of pure fentanyl. Finally, the legislation creates a grant fund for law enforcement agencies to pursue investigations of fentanyl poisonings. This crisis also demands a robust public health approach that will address the root causes of fentanyl use and keep people alive. Colorado will save lives by investing in effective public health and substance use prevention and treatment strategies and giving people the tools they need to protect themselves from this extremely potent drug. The legislation directs $29 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to implement recommendations from the Transformational Behavioral Health Task Force on effective harm reduction strategies and increased access to substance use disorder treatment in the criminal justice system. This money will be used to buy and distribute fentanyl testing strips and Naloxone, a life-saving opiate antagonist that helps prevent overdose deaths; boost funding to harm reduction community programs across the state; and expand medication assisted treatment in jails to get people the help they need to get back on track. The bill will also provide additional funding to crisis stabilization and detoxification centers. While public awareness of fentanyl has risen, education campaigns that promote effective overdose prevention tools will save lives. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will develop, implement and maintain an ongoing statewide prevention and education campaign to address fentanyl education needs in the state, including the message that no amount of fentanyl is safe. The bill will also provide grants to develop and implement community-focused education campaigns on the dangers of fentanyl, so the State of Colorado can reach as many people as possible to raise awareness of this critical issue. Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation in a preliminary vote to prohibit facility fee charges for preventative care and telehealth appointments to save Colorado patients money. < Back April 17, 2023 Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Hospital Costs Advances DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation in a preliminary vote to prohibit facility fee charges for preventative care and telehealth appointments to save Colorado patients money. “Surprise bills like hospital facility fees are making it more difficult for Coloradans to seek the care that they need because they can’t afford to be surprised by hundreds or thousands of dollars in hidden costs,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We need hospital billing to be more transparent for both health centers and Colorado patients so there is a common understanding of what the health care industry can charge and so patients know what to expect. By passing this bill to protect patients, Coloradans will save money and won’t be billed for many exorbitant facility fees.” “Preventative care is crucial to identify and address health care concerns before they become too aggressive to manage without expensive treatments,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Without preventative care, hospitals bear the cost of expensive services due to worsened health conditions, especially if the patient is unable to afford these emergency services. By prohibiting facility fees on preventative care and telehealth appointments, Coloradans will save money on care that keeps them healthy and alive and avoid surprise fees they can’t afford.” Some health care centers have started to charge patients hidden fees, often called a facility fee, on top of the health care services they are already being charged to cover operating costs. These fees can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars and are impossible for families to budget for, since there is no transparency as to how these fees will be applied. HB23-1215 prohibits health care providers from charging a facility fee for outpatient telehealth or preventative care. Health care providers would also be required to share information about facility fees to patients and post information on their property. The bill makes it a deceptive trade practice to not share facility fee information to patients. The bill also requires a report to be produced by December 1, 2023 that outlines the details of the impact of facility fees to better understand what these fees cover and how these fees impact patient cost and patient health. An annual report will also be required to improve data collection on facility fees and to increase transparency on the effects of these added costs. Previous Next

< Back March 27, 2019 JANET BUCKNER’S BIPARTISAN ORGAN DONOR BILL PASSES COMMITTEE (Mar. 27) – Speaker Pro-Tem Janet Buckner’s bipartisan bill passed out of the House Health and Insurance committee today. The bill prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing premiums for living donors based on their status as a living donor. “We shouldn’t be punishing people who are trying to save lives,” said Rep. Buckner, D-Aurora. “This bill will address this problem and ensure that people who are trying to help others aren’t charged more or worse, denied insurance all together.” HB19-1253 prohibits a person who offers life insurance, disability income insurance, or long-term care insurance from discriminating against a person based solely on the person’s status as a living organ donor. In addition, in 2020, the state department shall develop materials to educate the public on the benefits of being a living organ donor and their access to insurance. In 2018, 263 Coloradans died or became too sick to remain on the transplant waitlist while there were 168 living organ donors in Colorado. Currently, 1872 Coloradans are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. HB19-1253 passed the committee with unanimous, bipartisan support and now goes to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

< Back March 17, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES BECKER-CARAVEO BILL TO PRIORITIZE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF COLORADANS & GIVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES A VOICE (Mar. 19) – The House Energy and Environment committee approved SB19-181 tonight. The bill will update Colorado’s antiquated oil and gas laws to protect families and individuals from residential drilling by putting health and safety first, empowering local communities, and protecting Colorado’s clean air and clean water. “I’m proud of this bill and the stakeholder work that went into it. It proposes commonsense updates and modernization of our oil and gas laws that are more appropriate for the time and place that we are in now,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “Oil and gas drilling is taking place at unprecedented levels in neighborhoods and the industry must be more accountable to the communities where they operate. This bill will put health and safety first and protect our air, water and unique quality of life.” Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, the legislature’s only doctor and the co-prime sponsor of the bill, urged the committee to protect the health of the next generation of Coloradans by passing this bill. “As a pediatrician and legislator, I support this bill because we should be ensuring the health and safety of the children I care for in my clinic every day,” said Rep. Caraveo. “We should be balancing our economic growth with the actual growth of children who go to school and live around oil and gas operations. Additionally, given how localized the health effects of these operations are, we should give more tools to our local governments to decide what is the right balance between responsible resource extraction and the health of Coloradans in their communities.” Erin Martinez, a survivor of a tragic gas explosion in Firestone that killed her husband and brother, urged for stronger protections and spoke at length with members of the committee about the struggles she and her family have endured since that fateful day. Mrs. Martinez stated that had the protections outlined in SB19-181 been in place in 2017, her brother and husband might still be alive today. Martinez urged the committee to support the bill and said she believes the industry can put health and safety first and continue to thrive at the same time. “Erin Martinez shared powerful testimony with the people of our state and our committee today about a heartbreaking tragedy that could have been prevented. We need to put health and safety first in our state and that’s what this bill does,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora, chair of the Energy and Environment committee. The bill directs the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) to regulate oil and gas development to protect public welfare, and clarifies that local governments have the same authority to regulate the oil and gas industry as they have with every other industry in Colorado – including the mining industry. The bill also removes the prohibition against local governments requiring oil and gas companies to cover the direct costs of regulating, monitoring and permitting the sites in their communities. The bill addresses emissions and air quality by requiring increased monitoring and implementing a rule-making process to reduce emissions to better meet federal regulations. This month, a “brown cloud” returned to Denver and reports showed that the air quality was worse than that of Beijing. The bill would also ensure that taxpayers are not footing the bill for cleaning up orphan oil and gas wells that have been abandoned but not adequately plugged. Current bonding requirements are often found to be inadequate to cover the cost of clean-up when a company abandons a well. Clean-up costs for just one abandoned well costs an average of $82,000. Currently, there are more than 260 known orphan wells and 365 associated known orphan well sites in 31 Colorado counties. Finally, SB19-181 also provides increased protections for property owners with regard to forced pooling. Under current law, just one mineral rights owner can start the process of “force pooling” other mineral interest owners and require development of those resources – against the will of the majority of the owners. This bill would raise the threshold and put more transparency and guardrails on the process. The arguments peddled by the oil and gas industry are misleading. The sponsors and proponents of the bill made clear during the hearing that this bill is not a reiteration of Proposition 112, nor is it a moratorium or a ban on drilling. SB19-181 passed on a vote of 7-4 and now goes to the House Finance committee. Previous Next