Search Results

< Back February 12, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES HANSEN BILL TO HELP CONSUMERS & ENERGY COMMUNITIES Bill could help lower energy bills and ensure Colorado leads on climate action (Feb. 11) – The House Energy and Environment committee gave approval to Rep. Chris Hansen and Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo’s bill to help lower the cost of energy bills and transition toward renewable energy today. As a result of market forces, Colorado workers and communities are being negatively affected by the closure of aging power plants. “We have a moral imperative to act on climate and ensure our state transitions to renewable energy sources in a responsible manner. This bill will help lower energy costs for consumers, invest in low-cost renewable energy, and provide direct assistance to communities impacted by the retirement of a fading power plant,” said Rep. Hansen, D-Denver. The Colorado Energy Impact Assistance Act would offer job training and financial support to communities impacted by the decommissioning of power plants. “Coloradans are currently on the hook for the outstanding debt on aging power plants. This legislation would allow the state to refinance that debt at a much lower interest rate by authorizing ratepayer-backed bonds. The bill will help hardworking families save money on their energy bills and ensure a soft landing for when an aging power plant inevitably shuts down because of market forces,” Rep. Hansen added. The bill would have no impact on the state budget. As utilities retire facilities, workers and communities where the plants are located can face economic challenges, and this bill creates a means of mitigating those challenges. HB19-1037 creates the opportunity for Colorado to take advantage of low-cost ratepayer-backed bonds. Bonds can be used if an electric-generating facility is being closed. From a portion of bond proceeds, the bill also creates and funds the Colorado Energy Impact Assistance Authority, which acts to mitigate impacts of plant closures on affected Colorado workers and communities. Twenty-one other states have laws in place allowing ratepayer-backed bonds to be used but this would be the first time in U.S. history that savings from the bonds would help workers and communities transition and cost tax-payers zero dollars in the process. HB19-1037 was approved by a vote of 7-4. The bill now goes to the House floor. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES MULLICA’S BIPARTISAN FREESTANDING ER LICENSING BILL Bill will help improve safety (Feb. 15) – The House gave final approval on a bill today sponsored by Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Northglenn, that will improve safety at freestanding emergency room departments. “This bipartisan bill will ensure patients receive care in a safe manner and that emergency departments in rural, urban and suburban communities offer the best services available,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. HB 19-1010 will bring freestanding emergency departments under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional hospital emergency rooms to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients. This will ultimately improve the quality of care for patients and increase health care affordability. This bill will create a new license for Freestanding Emergency Departments (FSEDs) through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). It also requires FSEDs to medically screen every patient seeking care as well as prohibit them from delaying a medical examination in order to inquire about the patient’s ability to pay for the care or their insurance status. Rep. Mullica is an emergency room nurse by trade. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Lois Landgraf, R-Fountain. HB19-1010 passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 54-9. The bill now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

This week, bipartisan members of the Wildfire Matters Review Committee (WMRC) participated in a series of site visits throughout the Western Slope to learn more about Colorado’s wildfire response and prevention resources and hear directly from Coloradans impacted by recent destructive wildfires. < Back September 7, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Wildfire Matters Review Committee Tours Wildfire Fighting Facilities, Meets with Impacted Coloradans GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO – This week, bipartisan members of the Wildfire Matters Review Committee (WMRC) participated in a series of site visits throughout the Western Slope to learn more about Colorado’s wildfire response and prevention resources and hear directly from Coloradans impacted by recent destructive wildfires. "I am proud to host the Wildfire Matters Interim Committee in my beautiful district," said Chair of WMRC, Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. "On the Western Slope, we have experienced catastrophic fires which are only worsening as a result of climate change. We no longer have fire seasons, but fire years. We must be proactive in the face of a changing climate. There are many lessons learned and we have made progress in fire resiliency and emergency response, however there is more work to do." "Because of climate change, extreme wildfires are occurring more frequently, so we must continue working to protect our homes and businesses and create more resilient communities,” said Vice Chair of WMRC, Senator Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County. “A fire anywhere in Colorado affects the water we all drink, the air we all breathe, and the economy and recreational opportunities that enrich our lives. It's critical for us to hear from experts and community members who work and live in areas most likely to be directly impacted. I look forward to taking what we’ve learned back to the Capitol, where it will help shape our wildfire policy.” On Wednesday, WMRC committee members toured the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Hanging Lake Tunnel, a traffic command center equipped with a complete fire department for rapid response to fires in Glenwood Canyon. Following the tour of the command center, the committee visited El Jebel Mobile Home Park, a community threatened during the 2018 Lake Christine Fire, to learn about effective wildfire mitigation efforts. Finally, the committee met with members of the Glenwood Springs community to discuss recent wildfire fighting responses and identify gaps in resources and services. Today, the committee continued their tour with an EcoFlight tour of burn scars from the Grizzly Creek, Lake Christine, and Coal Seam wildfires. The two-day trip concluded with a tour of the Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting , a center established by SB14-164 and charged with driving technological advancements that improve firefighting practices and ensuring the successful implementation of Colorado's aerial firefighting fleet. This year, members of WMRC sponsored legislation to establish a statewide wildfire resiliency code board to help communities living in the wildland-urban interface defend homes and property from catastrophic wildfires, create a fire investigation fund to help investigate the causes and origins of fires and wildfires, and improve Colorado’s forestry workforce by directing the Colorado State Forest Service to develop educational materials on career opportunities in the industry and create a workforce development program in the State Forest Service. Previous Next

< Back February 23, 2022 FAMILY AFFIRMATION ACT AND BILL TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES PASS COMMITTEE DENVER, CO – Two bills to protect LGBTQ+ Coloradans and affirm the rights of LGBTQ+ parents today passed the committee on Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services. “Under current law, Colorado doesn’t automatically recognize the parent-child relationship for children conceived through assisted reproductions which makes things complicated for non-traditional and LGBTQ+ families,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper D-Lakewood . “This bill would create a process establishing a legal parent-child relationship and expediting the adoption process so families can spend more time with their newborn and less time on expensive paperwork.” “Since I gave birth to our child, my wife would have to go through the lengthy, expensive and complicated adoption process to be legally recognized as Marlo’s mom even though she is Marlo’s biological parent,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “With this bill, parents who conceive using assisted reproduction will have fewer hoops to jump through to be legally recognized as the parent of their child. At the end of the day, Marlo is a child that we brought into this world together, and we shouldn’t have to go through background checks, court appearances and so much more for that to be recognized under the law.” HB22-1153, sponsored by Representatives Kerry Tipper and Daneya Esgar, would create an accessible and streamlined adoption process for parents conceiving through assisted reproduction. Some parents, often LGBTQ+ couples, who conceive using assisted reproduction must currently go through the legal adoption process to be recognized as legal parents. This lengthy, expensive and complicated process is necessary just to be recognized as the legal parent of their child. Currently, Majority Leader Esgar’s wife, Heather, is going through the process of adopting her child, Marlo, who the Majority Leader carried and who is Heather’s biological child. The adoption process currently requires home visits, court appearances, criminal record checks and countless complicated forms to legally confirm the parent-child relationship. This is all required for a parent to legally adopt their child. This makes parenting exponentially more expensive and time consuming for LGBTQ+ and other non-traditional families. The bill would create a process for families to establish a legal parent-child relationship that must be recognized nationwide and instruct courts to confirm the adoption within 30 days. HB22-1157, sponsored by Representatives Karen McCormick and Brianna Titone, would require the Department of Public Health and Environment to collect health access data that has been voluntarily provided on Colorado communities that have been historically underserved and face disproportionate health impacts. The bill would facilitate the Health Equity Commission to establish a data advisory committee to provide recommendations on a process to collect statewide data on sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity and disability to better address health inequities across the state. “In order for Colorado to make informed health care decisions, we need to ensure we have the data of our state’s LGBTQ+, disability and underserved communities,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “This bill would facilitate the collection of sexual orientation and gender identity, among other demographic information, so we can better support our state’s health care needs. This is an important step in building an equity-based health care system that works to meet the needs of everyone.” “We’re working hard to build a healthier Colorado and that means meeting the needs of our underserved and underrepresented communities,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “By collecting statewide data on ethnicity, gender identity, race, disability, sexual orientation and other critical demographic information, we can make better and more informed health care decisions for our state that will drive better outcomes." Previous Next

New law to improve housing affordability and options goes into effect < Back June 27, 2024 Law to Make Housing More Affordable, Remove Unnecessary Occupancy Limits Goes Into Effect New law to improve housing affordability and options goes into effect DENVER, CO - On July 1, 2024, legislation goes into effect to prohibit local governments from implementing or enforcing residential occupancy limits except for health and safety reasons. “Colorado has a housing shortage across the state, forcing people to live paycheck to paycheck just to have a roof over their head,” said Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City. “Discriminatory housing limits often prevent Coloradans from living with friends or distant family members, reducing housing options and pushing people out of their communities. Now, we’re allowing more Coloradans to legally share living spaces, which will make housing more affordable and help ensure that more Coloradans have a place to call home.” “Ending discriminatory occupancy limits is a great way to break down housing barriers and create a more equitable market,” said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “These limits disproportionately affect historically marginalized communities that may have diverse family structures. It’s time we lift outdated occupancy limits and give Coloradans a wider range of housing options.” “Occupancy limits that are not genuinely necessary for health and safety limit the ability of Coloradans struggling to get by to find affordable housing,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “At a time when Coloradans face a shortage of housing supply, our governments should not be limiting the supply of housing. This legislation will expand housing options for all and allow people to make their own housing choices that benefit their families and save them money.” “Strict occupancy limits can reduce housing options and push folks out of their communities,” said Senator Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “Prohibiting occupancy limits would give residents the freedom to choose their living situations and who they live with. With this bill, we can allow families to live in a structure that’s best for them – without the interference of occupancy limits.” HB24-1007 prohibits local governments from limiting the number of people who can live together based on family status. Limits are only permitted if they are based on affordable housing program guidelines or demonstrated health and safety standards, such as fire code regulations, wastewater and water quality standards, or international building code standards. Occupancy limits typically cap the number of people that can live in a residence based on whether or not they are not related, even if the residence has more bedrooms than the occupancy limit standard. In 2023, there were over 14,000 Coloradans experiencing homelessness. More than 50 percent of renters in the Denver Metro Area, as well as counties like Boulder, El Paso, Larimer, Pueblo, Summit, Eagle, and Mesa, are cost burdened. Previous Next

On August 6, legislation goes into effect to bring down costs for Coloradans by cracking down on corporate price gouging for everyday necessities like groceries and toiletries. Another law also goes into effect to expand the paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program for families with newborns receiving inpatient care in the NICU. < Back July 24, 2025 Democrats Save Coloradans Money with New Laws to Crack Down on Price Gouging, Expand Paid Family Leave DENVER, CO - On August 6, legislation goes into effect to bring down costs for Coloradans by cracking down on corporate price gouging for everyday necessities like groceries and toiletries. Another law also goes into effect to expand the paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program for families with newborns receiving inpatient care in the NICU. “Price gouging hurts hardworking Coloradans and mom-and-pop businesses, which is why I sponsored this law that will hold bad actors accountable,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of HB25-1010 and SB25-144. “No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and paying rent, and as a mom to three young children, I have personally felt the pressure facing so many of our Colorado families. With this law going into effect today, Colorado Democrats are standing up against corporate price gouging to reduce the cost of everyday necessities.” “This law is about putting public welfare and consumer protection ahead of corporate greed,” said Senator Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB25-1010. “Time and time again, we have seen bad actors use disasters as an excuse to raise prices on necessities and line their own pockets. It’s time for us to step in and ensure that Colorado families can purchase the things they need – like groceries and diapers – at prices they can afford during times of crisis.” “With corporate bad actors driving up prices on groceries and everyday necessities, Colorado Democrats are taking action to stop price gouging and save Coloradans money,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, sponsor of HB25-1010. “While the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and supply chain issues have impacted prices, bad-acting corporations have taken advantage of these factors to jack up prices just to increase their profits. While Republicans in the legislature sided with wealthy corporations, our majority passed this law to help tackle the rising cost of living, put an end to corporate price gouging and make Colorado a more affordable place to live for all.” HB25-1010 prohibits price gouging of goods or services during a declared emergency. In this law, price gouging is defined as a price increase of 10 percent or above the average cost of the product or good that is not attributable to seasonal pricing. Necessities include goods and services essential for the health, safety, and welfare of the public, like groceries and toiletries. A 2024 Federal Trade Commission report stated that the three largest grocers accelerated and distorted the negative effects associated with supply chain disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Colorado Democrats passed a 2024 law , also sponsored by Rep. Brown and Sen. Weissman, to prevent price gouging on rent after a natural disaster. The law was inspired after rents skyrocketed for Coloradans who lost their homes after the Marshall Fire, pricing vulnerable Coloradans out of their communities. Another law created the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to limit price gouging of life-saving prescription drugs, helping lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. SB25-144 allows parents of children who are receiving inpatient care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to receive paid family and medical insurance benefits for up to an additional twelve weeks while the child is receiving care. “When I was forced to juggle work to pay the bills and spend time with my newborn, who was receiving life-saving care, I knew we needed to reform Colorado’s paid family leave,” continued Zokaie. “Every parent should be able to be fully present with their child during life’s most difficult moments. By expanding FAMLI leave by up to twelve additional weeks, we ensure Coloradans no longer have to choose between a paycheck and their family." “I know firsthand how terrifying and consuming it can be for a parent of a newborn in intensive care,” said Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, sponsor of SB25-144. “It is so important for a child's development to be with their parents in those first few months of life. We need to make it easier for parents with kids in the NICU to have access to that quality time, which is why we’re expanding FAMLI in a way that doesn’t raise premiums for employees or employers..” “This law will support families so they have the time they need to prioritize their newborns who need extra care to ensure they have a long, healthy life,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, sponsor of SB25-144. “As a NICU baby myself, I want to ensure that families have the opportunity to be present with their newborn, something that is proven to have positive impacts on child development. By expanding the voter-approved FAMLI program, we’re being responsive to the needs of Colorado parents while also supporting Colorado businesses.” “We know that children are more likely to come home faster from the NICU if their parents can be with them,” said Sen. Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, sponsor of SB25-144. “Because of the good work and the existing resources of the FAMLI Insurance program, expanding benefits for additional time allows the state to provide additional help to families going through incredibly taxing times.” The law also modifies the premiums for the FAMLI program to reduce the current rate of 0.9 percent of wages per employee to 0.88 percent for the next calendar year. For each subsequent year, the FAMLI division director is required to set the premium rate to reflect the solvency of the program and create more stability for businesses. Under the new premium amounts, the law will save Colorado businesses and employees nearly $17 million in FY2025-26 and over $35 million in FY2026-27. Colorado voters approved Proposition 118 in the November 2020 election, creating the Paid Medical and Family Leave Initiative to provide Colorado families 12 weeks of paid leave. Some families are allowed up to 16 weeks of leave in certain cases. To date, the FAMLI program has paid out an average weekly benefit payment of $915 to cover 155,000 Coloradans for medical leave, parental leave, caretaking, safe leave for survivors of domestic violence and military family leave. The average leave duration is over 51 days. A 2019 report found that parent presence in the NICU decreases stress and pain, strengthens parent-child attachment and improves brain development. Previous Next

The House Finance Committee today passed legislation that would allow notifications for vehicle registration, license plate renewals, and other motor vehicle transactions to be sent electronically. HB24-1089 passed unanimously by a vote of 11-0. < Back March 11, 2024 Hamrick Bill Improves DMV Process, Allows Electronic Communications DENVER, CO - The House Finance Committee today passed legislation that would allow notifications for vehicle registration, license plate renewals, and other motor vehicle transactions to be sent electronically. HB24-1089 passed unanimously by a vote of 11-0. “Electronic communication is the norm, and Coloradans should be given the option to receive DMV transactions and notifications electronically,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “Printing and mailing these communications cost counties hundreds of thousands of dollars every single year. With this bill, we can save counties money while making it easier for Coloradans to navigate the DMV.” HB24-1089 , also sponsored by Representative Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, would create an opt-in option for electronic notifications for transactions and notices, including vehicle registration expiration, plate or placard renewal, fleet vehicle registration renewal, dealer license plate and depot tag issuance, and missing documentation. The bill would not allow for the revocation of a vehicle registration or license plate to be sent electronically. Previous Next

< Back October 14, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: Legislation to Foster New Careers in Wildfire Mitigation, Reform Judiciary to be Introduced Next Session DENVER, CO – The Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly today approved several interim committee bills to be introduced in the upcoming 2023 legislative session, including bills to create new career pathways for fire mitigation work and reform the state’s judicial discipline process. “We’ve passed a number of new laws to significantly expand wildfire mitigation, prevention and response efforts in Colorado, and I’m excited for this work to continue next session,” said Wildfire Matters Review Committee Member Rep. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County “The bill approved today will boost our wildfire mitigation workforce and make it easier for Coloradans who want to work in wildfire mitigation to build their careers and enter this critical field. Advancing this legislation will also help employers find the workers they need and increase the availability of wildfire mitigation options for homeowners.” “Wildfires are now a part of Colorado's challenges. We need to be as prepared as possible when an emergency strikes, which is why we made a historic investment in wildfire mitigation this year to better equip our communities to handle future disasters," said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder County . “Now, with this legislation, we will be able to create a robust wildfire mitigation workforce to help protect Colorado communities from the growing threat of wildfires." The committee unanimously approved Bill A from the Wildfire Matters Review Committee, which will foster internships and other career opportunities for workers who want to enter the wildfire mitigation field. The bill will be sponsored by Representatives Lisa Cutter and Perry Will as well as Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis. It directs the state forest service to develop educational materials for students, authorizes the expansion and creation of forestry programs at Colorado community colleges, and directs the state board for community colleges to recruit wildland fire prevention and mitigation educators for the new forestry programs. Last session, Colorado Democrats passed several new laws to fund wildfire mitigation and prevention efforts including HB22-1011 which created a $10 million matching grant program to help local governments develop and fund sustainable forest management and wildfire mitigation efforts. Democrats also created a new income tax credit for wildfire mitigation, improved wildfire insurance coverage , provided $35 million to help communities recover and rebuild following disaster emergencies, and invested $15 million to prevent and better prepare for wildfires. The Legislative Council also unanimously approved Bills A and B from the Legislative Interim Committee on Judicial Discipline. Both bills will be sponsored by Representaitves Mike Weissman and Mike Lynch as well as Senators Julie Gonzales and Bob Gardner. Bill A is a concurrent resolution that refers a constitutional amendment to voters that would create an independent judicial discipline adjudicative board. It also sets standards for judicial review of a discipline case. It would vastly increase transparency by allowing judicial discipline matters to be made public once formal proceedings commence against a judge or justice, and the new independent adjudicative board would act as a “court” for formal judicial discipline proceedings and determine appropriate sanctions. It also creates a clear, alternative appellate process for instances in which Supreme Court justices are implicated in disciplinary proceedings. Bill B would put these new changes into effect and enhance reporting by the Commission on Judicial Discipline to the legislature and the public. It would allow confidential and anonymous judicial discipline complaints and require the commission to update complainants throughout the process. These provisions will increase the information available to the public about judicial discipline matters. “Coloradans should be able to trust that our judges are being held to the highest ethical standards and that the judicial discipline process is effective, transparent and responsive to complaints,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, chair of the House Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Interim Committee on Judicial Discipline. “This Constitutional Amendment will create a new, transparent and accountable process to ensure that complaints against judges in Colorado are investigated and adjudicated through processes free from undue influence by the judicial branch of government in which they work.” "Public confidence in our judicial system is foundational to a functioning democracy and to safe communities, and for our system to work Colorado judges must be held to the highest standards of accountability," said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. "The courts belong to all of us, and these measures will improve integrity and bolster confidence that judges will act with the public good and the rule of law as their highest goals, and help ensure our judicial system remains honest, fair, ethical, and just." Previous Next

< Back May 19, 2021 BILL TO REQUIRE MONITORING OF TOXIC AIR POLLUTION ADVANCES DENVER, CO– The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to require real-time fenceline monitoring of air toxics at certain industrial facilities and community based monitoring in areas where people are most at risk. “Communities have a right to know when facilities release toxic pollution like hydrogen cyanide and benzene into the air,” said Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Adams County. “With this bill, we’re requiring facilities to conduct fenceline monitoring, publicly publish the data in real time, and notify communities in the most prevalent two languages when there’s a violation. Mobile van community-based monitoring will ensure that we get the full picture of how, where, and when air toxins are impacting communities near our dirtiest facilities, especially Black and Brown communities that have been disproportionately impacted by toxic pollution.” “Time after time we’ve seen facilities try to conceal or alter the air quality and toxic emissions data they release–we’re going to ensure we have reliable data and hold facilities accountable,” said Energy and Environment Committee Chair Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “Air toxins cause cancer, reproductive health issues, ecological disasters, and when facilities violate the limits, they’ll be required to notify communities and take corrective action quickly. The bill establishes robust air monitoring programs so that we know when facilities release toxic pollution.” HB21-1189 would require facilities to collect and publicly report real time air monitoring data and fund community-based monitoring programs to better understand the cumulative health impacts of air toxics emissions from multiple sources. Air toxics are pollutants that cause or may cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as adverse reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental and economical effects. Specifically, the bill expands the type of facilities covered by air toxin pollution limits. Importantly, the bill requires real-time “fenceline” monitoring and public reporting on the results of the monitoring. Facilities would be required to notify the public when emissions breach thresholds for toxic levels or exposure. The bill also requires the Department of Public Health and Environment to conduct community-based monitoring (mobile van monitors) of toxic air pollution in areas near covered facilities. Covered facilities must take corrective action within 15 days of a violation. The bill requires covered facilities to conduct outreach to communities near the facilities, in particular disproportionately impacted communities. Outreach must be conducted in the two most prevalent languages spoken in the communities. Disproportionately impacted communities often include low-income neighborhoods and residents who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latino, and people of color. Previous Next

SB24-189 adds gender identity and gender expression to Colorado’s bias-motivated crimes and harassment laws < Back June 28, 2024 Legislation to Protect More Coloradans from Bias-Motivated Crimes Goes Into Effect DENVER, CO – Legislation that will protect more Coloradans from bias-motivated crimes goes into effect on July 1. SB24-189 , sponsored by Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Chris Hansen, D-Denver, as well as Representative Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, improves protections for Coloradans by adding gender identity and gender expression to the classes included in Colorado’s bias-motivated crimes and harassment laws. “Every Coloradan deserves to feel secure in their community, but far too many folks have been targeted because of who they are or how they identify,” Fields said. “As trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive folks face increasing threats across the country, we will continue fighting to make our state safer for all Coloradans and provide better protections against bias-motivated crime and harassment.” "Sadly hate crimes are on the rise in Colorado and the need for protections for LGBTQ+ Coloradans is very clear," Weissman said. "This new law bolsters protections for our transgender community by clarifying transgender identity as a protected class in our bias crime laws. We are working hard to protect all Coloradans from crimes that target them just because of who they are." “Colorado has been a national leader when it comes to advancing equality and protections for our LGBTQ+ neighbors,” Hansen said. “This bill will help protect Coloradans from violence or harassment based on their gender identity or gender expression, and will help ensure perpetrators of bias-motivated crimes are held accountable for their actions. I’m pleased to champion this legislation that will help more Coloradans feel secure and keep people in our communities safe.” The bill also redefines "sexual orientation" as used in our bias-motivated crimes and harassment statutes. Previous Next

< Back May 10, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO SUPPORT PEACE OFFICERS’ MENTAL HEALTH DENVER, CO – The House today passed Representative Dylan Roberts’ bill to direct additional resources to expand access to behavioral health care for peace officers. “SB5 is such an important bill to support our law officers because it will provide them with the resources they may need after experiencing difficult situations while serving their communities,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “This bill will help law enforcement departments recruit and retain qualified peace officers, and it ensures that we have their backs when they need help.” SB22-005 , sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Dan Woog, passed by a vote of 55-5. It would direct $3 million to a program that helps law enforcement agencies retain and recruit qualified and trained POST-certified officers. The funding would expand access to behavioral health and counseling support for law enforcement officers to prevent peace officer suicide deaths. Previous Next

< Back May 1, 2019 REP. FROELICH’S BIPARTISAN BILL TO ENHANCE YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES GOES TO GOVERNOR’S DESK (May 1) – The House voted in strong bipartisan support to pass Rep. Meg Froelich’s Child & Youth Behavioral Health System Enhancements to curb youth suicide in Colorado by making it easier for families to locate and access the behavioral healthcare they need. “We have a mental health crisis in Colorado, one that knows no party lines,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “Unfortunately, there are kids that are in pain and are not getting the timely and appropriate help they need. We need to provide more resources for teens, kids and their families to access the services they need to get help.” SB19-195 would create the Office of Children and Youth Behavioral Health Policy Coordination in the Office of the Governor, a central agency to coordinate mental and behavioral health resources statewide. Additionally, it would create a commission to study and recommend how to best coordinate and provide such services. The bill would also standardize the screening and assessments that doctors use to identify potential behavioral concerns. Nearly 9 out of every 100,000 teenagers in the United States between the ages of 15 and 19 die by suicide. In Colorado, that number is nearly twice the national average at 17.6 out of every 100,000 teenagers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Help is available. If you are struggling, please text TALK to 38255 or call 844-493-8255. SB19-195 passed with a bipartisan vote of 52-13. It now heads to the Governor’s desk. Previous Next