< Back March 23, 2021 A DAY AFTER BOULDER TRAGEDY, GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION ADVANCES Previously scheduled hearing on Lost & Stolen Bill moves forward DENVER, CO– The House Judiciary Committee today advanced Representative Tom Sullivan and Leslie Herod’s bill to prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands by requiring responsible gun owners to report to law enforcement when they realize their firearms have been lost or stolen. The committee hearing, scheduled weeks ago after the legislation had moved through the Senate, comes a day after a tragic mass shooting that took the lives of 10 people in Boulder, Colorado. The bill passed by a party line vote of 7-4. “This bill is about as commonsense and straightforward as gun safety legislation gets,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “By simply requiring that responsible gun owners alert law enforcement when a firearm may have made its way into the hands of a criminal, we truly can save lives. This piece of legislation is overwhelmingly supported by our constituents. 87 percent of Coloradans are in favor of reporting lost and stolen firearms — that includes 81 percent of Republicans and 86 percent of gun owners. This shouldn’t be a Democratic or Republican issue. It’s a life and death issue.” “Reporting lost and stolen firearms to law enforcement is a simple way to prevent crime and save lives,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “As we are tragically reminded of today, gun violence is a plague that we must work to end in Colorado and in our country. While gut wrenching mass shootings like the one that took place near my alma mater yesterday make headlines and capture the nation’s attention, everyday instances of gun violence quietly take lives in our communities every single day. That’s what this bill seeks to remedy. I refuse to offer victims of gun violence only thoughts and prayers. I offer them my action.” SB21-078 requires an individual who owns a firearm and has reasonable cause to believe that the firearm has been lost or stolen to report that firearm to a law enforcement agency within five days after discovering that the firearm is missing. A first offense for failure to make such a report is a civil infraction punishable by a $25 fine, and a second or subsequent offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $500 fine. The bill requires a law enforcement agency that receives a report to enter information about the lost or stolen firearm into the National Crime Information Center database and report the information to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Previous Next

The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to ensure individuals housed in jails across the state have a basic and standardized set of rights. The bill passed by a vote of 10-1. < Back January 23, 2024 Committee Passes Bill to Implement Statewide Jail Standards DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to ensure individuals housed in jails across the state have a basic and standardized set of rights. The bill passed by a vote of 10-1. “Providing incarcerated Coloradans the services they need to build a successful life when they leave the justice system will improve public safety and reduce recidivism,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “This bill builds on our 2022 legislation to incorporate insight from behavioral health professionals, law enforcement agencies, and county representatives into jail standards to be used in every jail in our state. This not only benefits incarcerated Coloradans, but also the officers and staffers that work in our jails. I’m proud to continue our collaborative work so we can improve conditions in our jail system.” “All Coloradans deserve safe living conditions, and their health and safety shouldn’t vary greatly depending on which jail they’re placed in,” said Rep. Lorena Garcia, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Our bill extends the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards to ensure that all incarcerated people in Colorado are treated equally. Creating a safer environment in Colorado jails is one of many steps we can take to rehabilitate incarcerated people so they have the tools they need to break cycles of incarceration.” HB24-1054 extends the duties of the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards that address and improve the rights of people incarcerated in jails, including access to health care, visitation, housing and more. Jails must comply with these standards by July 1, 2026, and will have one year to adopt revised standards. The bill also creates a Jail Standards Advisory Committee composed of sheriffs, county commissioners, the state public defender, a health professional, and an advocate from a statewide organization. The Advisory Committee will be charged with conducting jail assessments, establishing standards and procedures, and submitting an annual report and recommendations to the Legislative Oversight Committee. The Attorney General’s office could conduct investigations regarding potential violations of the standards. Under the bill, the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Public Safety is required to create a list of funding assistance and resources for jails to offset the costs of complying with the new standards. Previous Next

< Back February 14, 2022 BILL TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY ON HYGIENE PRODUCTS MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO – Legislation to eliminate the state tax on essential hygiene products including feminine hygiene products and diapers passed the House Finance committee today by a vote of 8 to 3. HB22-1055, sponsored by Representatives Susan Lontine and Leslie Herod, would create a tax exemption for all state sales and use taxes on feminine hygiene products and diapers. "We’re working hard to save Coloradans money on hygiene products, including diapers and period products because they are essential everyday items for many families,” said Susan Lontine D-Denver . “This bill showcases our efforts to remove the tax on dignity by ending the state sales tax on essential hygiene products, increasing their affordability for every Coloradan who uses them.” “Too many students in our community are missing school because they don’t have access to period products,” said Leslie Herod, D-Denver. "This bill aims to make period products, diapers, and incontinence products more affordable and save Coloradans money by eliminating sales and use tax. Eliminating the tax on these essential items not only makes these products more affordable but also helps to destigmatize period products so people in Colorado can feel confident in their bodies. HB22-1055 , would create a tax exemption for all state sales and use taxes on feminine hygiene products, diapers and incontinence products. If passed, specific hygiene products would join other tax exempt essentials like food and medicine. The current sales and use tax on essential products falls disproportionately on communities of color and older Coloradans with fixed incomes. Previous Next

< Back April 22, 2019 EFFORT TO LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING PASSES HOUSE COMMITTEE Around $150 billion is wagered illegally on sports every year in the U.S. (Apr. 22) – The House Finance committee passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Majority Leader Alec Garnett that would legalize sports betting in Colorado. This bill would require voter approval if passed by the General Assembly. “Coloradans should have the option of betting on the Rockies in the World Series or the Avs in the Stanley Cup. Voters support funding to protect our water and this will help them do their part,” said Majority Leader Garnett, D-Denver. “Our outdoor economy depends on access to water and healthy rivers and this will help generate much needed funding for the Colorado Water Plan. And it is our hope that this measure will help stamp out black market sports betting.” HB19-1327 would provide a master license to local casinos who can then contract with brick and mortar and/or internet sports betting operators to provide sports betting in Colorado. A 10 percent tax on net sports betting proceeds will be placed in a Sports Betting Fund. That fund will go towards the Water Implementation Cash Fund to fund Colorado Water Plan projects to keep our drinking water safe, our farms and ranches thriving, and keep our rivers healthy. The Colorado Water Conservation Board will govern the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund. Some of the eligible projects for these funds are water storage and supply projects, conversation and land use projects, engagement and innovation activities, agricultural projects and environmental and recreation projects. Organizations in support of this measure are the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the Colorado Municipal League, the Colorado River District, the Environmental Defense Action Fund, Western Resource Advocates, and Denver Water. HB19-1327 passed out of the committee with a bipartisan vote of 9-1. It now heads to the House Appropriations committee. The bill is sponsored by Minority Leader Patrick Neville. The Senate sponsors are Sen. Kerry Donovan and Sen. John Cooke. Previous Next

< Back March 28, 2019 DEMOCRATS HANSEN & HEROD CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR NET NEUTRALITY Herod, Hansen bill would protect an open and free Internet (Mar. 28) – The House State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee passed a bill today to protect a free and open internet in Colorado. The bill to protect net neutrality and safeguard taxpayer money is sponsored by Reps. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “With new leadership in the State Senate and renewed calls to ensure that the internet remains open and accessible, we are pressing forward,” said Rep. Leslie Herod. “The internet is an indispensable part of our lives.” The Trump administration recently rolled back Obama-era rules ensuring a free and open internet. Washington, Montana and Oregon have already passed legislation or taken other steps to protect net neutrality. “Washington D.C. is refusing to protect net neutrality so it’s on the states to act. It’s critical the internet remains open for innovators, consumers and small businesses,” Rep. Hansen said. “Our bill is about protecting taxpayer dollars from being used to support throttled or blocked internet service.” SB19-078 would ensure that: · companies that receive assistance to expand rural broadband provide net-neutral service. · state contracting give preference to internet service providers that deliver net neutrality. · consumers know how to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission to allege that an Internet Service Provider (ISP) has interfered with the open internet. SB19-078 passed with a vote of 4-3 and now goes to the House floor. The House passed a similar bill last session only to have it blocked by the previously GOP controlled state Senate. Previous Next

< Back April 8, 2021 COLORADO COMEBACK BILL ADDRESSES COVID LEARNING LOSS Bipartisan bill to invest in high-impact tutoring to close the COVID education gap DENVER, CO– The House Education Committee today advanced Representative Kerry Tipper’s bipartisan bill to invest $5 million into tutoring programs intended to address COVID-related learning loss across the state. The bill is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $700 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The bill passed committee unanimously. “Over the past year, Colorado’s educators went above and beyond to continue our students’ education despite an unprecedented public health emergency,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood. “Despite their heroic efforts, COVID-related learning loss has taken a toll on students in every corner of the state. Today we made a robust investment in high-impact tutoring, a proven educational tool to ensure Colorado’s students can quickly close the COVID learning gap and continue to thrive.” HB21-1234 would create and fund the Colorado High Impact Tutoring Program. Data consistently demonstrates that high-impact tutoring, when administered during the school day to groups of four of fewer students by the same qualified tutor at least three times per week, is one of the most effective interventions to raise student achievement. This program would be administered under the Colorado Department of Education and would provide grants to local education providers for high impact tutoring programs designed to address COVID-related learning loss. The bill outlines the process and requirements for applying for funding, and establishes that rural education providers and schools serving low-income or underserved students must be among the criteria taken into consideration in awarding grants. ### Previous Next

< Back March 15, 2022 GOP BILL TO END VOTE BY MAIL AND EARLY VOTING DEFEATED Big Lie inspired bill from Rep. Hanks would significantly restrict access to voting and destroy Colorado’s gold standard elections DENVER, CO – Democrats on the House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee today defeated GOP legislation that would end vote by mail and early voting in Colorado. “GOP politicians are using debunked conspiracy theories to try to eliminate vote by mail and early voting in Colorado. We won’t let them,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Vote-by-mail and early voting have led to Colorado having some of the highest voter participation rates in the country, especially among Black and Latino voters. This bill is nothing more than an attempt to deny Coloradans their fundamental right to vote.” “We have the most secure elections in the country, and Coloradans love our vote-by-mail system and the flexibility to vote before Election Day,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “House Democrats will always protect our democracy and elections in Colorado from GOP threats to our voting system. I’m proud of our members who defeated Representative Hanks’ legislation that would have eliminated mail-in ballots and early voting.” HB22-1204 , sponsored by Representative Ron Hanks, would eliminate vote by mail and early voting in Colorado. For the second year in a row, GOP lawmakers are using repeatedly debunked conspiracy theories that claim the 2020 election was stolen in order to upend how Coloradans vote. The changes would make it harder to vote in Colorado and limit voter participation, undermining Colorado’s gold standard system for access and security. Over 98 percent of voters in the 2021 election chose to cast their ballot by mail, and almost 94 percent of ballots in the 2020 General Election were returned via mail or drop box. The vast majority of Colorado voters, 86 percent, returned their ballots before Election Day. Colorado’s voter turnout rate is over 75 percent, placing the state second in the nation in voter participation and roughly seven percentage points higher than the national average of 68 percent. Previous Next

The House Energy & Environment Committee today passed legislation that would improve Colorado’s air quality and reduce harmful emissions. < Back April 20, 2023 Legislation to Improve Colorado’s Air Quality, Reduce Harmful Emissions Passes House Committee DENVER, CO – The House Energy & Environment Committee today passed legislation that would improve Colorado’s air quality and reduce harmful emissions. HB23-1294 would strengthen measures to reduce ozone and increase opportunities for public engagement to improve the emissions permitting process. SB23-016 would propel Colorado’s clean energy transition by establishing interim greenhouse gas emissions targets and incentivizing investments in electrification. “Coloradans face some of the worst air quality in the nation, and we need to stand firm in our plan to reduce harmful emissions,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “High levels of ozone are dangerous for our children and our neighbors to breathe, often leading to significant health issues.This is not just a Denver problem, this is also a Front Range problem that we must address, and our bill is a significant step towards transparency around our air quality problem and potential solutions. This legislation gives impacted communities more of a say in the permitting and enforcement processes and ensures that we will continue working to find meaningful solutions.” “As ozone season approaches, Coloradans across the Front Range will once again battle poor air quality that affects their day-to-day life,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “In Colorado, we need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to reduce harmful emissions and that includes strengthening our permitting processes. This important legislation gives Coloradans a voice when it comes to reporting poor air quality in their community and works to create a path forward that will not only improve Colorado’s air quality, but aid in our state’s clean energy transition.” HB23-1294 passed committee by a vote of 8 to 3 and works to protect communities from air pollution by bolstering the procedures and requirements for air permits in Colorado. The American Lung Association recently ranked metro Denver’s ozone pollution as the sixth worst in the United States. This bill works to improve public engagement in permitting processes by giving impacted communities a voice in the enforcement process, and sets clear timelines for agency action in response to these complaints to better protect communities. To address the poor air quality in the nonattainment area, HB23-1294 would lead to stronger emissions control measures to help the state meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone. The Denver Metro and Front Range area was recently downgraded by the Environmental Protection Agency to “severe” nonattainment status and a majority of Coloradans live in an area that fails to comply with these federal standards. HB23-1294 would also create the Legislative Interim Committee on Ozone Air Quality to investigate the factors contributing to ozone pollution and identify policy solutions to improve air quality in the state. “From record breaking droughts, destructive wildfire and poor air quality across Colorado – it’s important we implement bold policies that bring us closer to reaching our climate goals,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “This legislation creates targets to help Colorado reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and incentivize the use of clean alternatives in our homes and businesses. We need to ensure Colorado’s on a strong path forward to combat climate change, and this legislation brings us closer to a decarbonized economy.” “Coloradans are demanding action, and we’re committed to doing our part in the fight against climate change to protect our children and neighbors,” said Rep. Emily Siorta, D-Denver. “This bill sets crucial greenhouse gas pollution reduction goals to improve the air we breathe now and in the years to come. Under this bill, we can mitigate the effects of climate change by encouraging electrification and speeding up our transition to a decarbonized economy. Our important legislation takes action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, prioritize clean energy and protect our families.” SB23-016 passed committee by a vote of 8 to 3 and would update the state’s emission reduction goals to match the latest climate science by adding interim targets, including a 65 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to 2005 levels by 2035, and a new goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. To help reach these targets, the bill would require the Public Utilities Commission to prioritize the renovation, rebuilding, and reconditioning of electrical transmission lines, enabling and improving electrification across the state. Permitting for these projects would be expedited and the construction would be subject to the state’s labor standards. To further expedite electrification, the bill would incentivize the retirements of a major local ozone contributor: lawn equipment. Purchasers of electric lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, and snowblowers would qualify for 30 percent off at the point-of-sale and a corresponding tax credit would be provided to the retailer. SB23-016 would also encourage climate-aware financial investing by requiring large insurance companies to complete a climate risk disclosure survey. Finally, the bill would expand the definitions of “pollution control equipment” and “clean heat resource” to include currently underutilized wastewater thermal energy, and enable Colorado to lead in carbon sequestration by allowing the state to apply to the EPA for Class VI injection well primacy. Previous Next

< Back June 3, 2020 REP. MCLACHLAN’S COLLEGE CREDIT FOR WORK EXPERIENCE BILL PASSES Bipartisan legislation would allow college students to obtain academic credit for work experience DENVER, CO — The House today passed Representative Barbara McLachlan’s bipartisan bill to make it easier to obtain academic credit for work-related experiences across all state institutions. The vote was 62-3. “As we take the necessary steps to get our state back to work responsibly, it is critical that we do everything we can to make it easier for Colorado’s students to compete in a 21st century economy,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan (D-Durango). “As a former teacher, I know that some of the most important education a student can receive happens outside of the classroom. This bill would allow students who have had formative educational experiences in the workplace to get the academic credits they need to complete their degrees in a more affordable and expedited way.” HB20-1002, which advanced from the Making Higher Education Attainable Interim Committee, and was approved by the House Education Committee earlier this year, would require the Commission on Higher Education to create a model to award academic credit for work-related experiences. The credits would be acceptable and transferable across all state institutions, improving access and affordability for non-traditional students. The bill also includes a provision that will require state institutions to develop a mechanism through which students can test out of any undergraduate class through an individual assessment or other testing means. Previous Next

< Back May 11, 2021 IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND PASSES ON SECOND READING House gives preliminary approval to Reps. Tipper and Ricks’ bill to help provide immigrants with legal representation DENVER, CO– The House today advanced Reps. Kerry Tipper and Naquetta Ricks’s bill to help to provide legal representation for low-income Coloradans facing deportation or other immigration proceedings. The bill passed on second reading. “Forcing low-income individuals to face an immigration court, especially during a complicated deportation proceeding, without an attorney is a failure of our justice system,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood. “Immigrants contribute immensely to our economy, our culture, and our communities. Regardless of whether they are documented or not, immigrants have legal rights in our country. This fund will ensure that they are aware of and able to exercise their rights.” “As an immigrant myself, I understand firsthand how complicated our immigration legal system can be for families hoping to make Colorado their permanent home,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “So many kids in Colorado are growing up in mixed-status families. Ensuring that parents who are facing deportation or other immigration proceedings have the legal representation they deserve is the right thing to do.” HB21-1194 would create the immigration Legal Defense Fund and charge it with administering grants to nonprofit organizations that provide legal advice, counseling, and representation for, and on behalf of, clients appearing in an immigration court. These funds are designated to go toward serving low income clients, in particular those who are detained for deportation proceedings. The bill also includes stipulations to ensure funds go to clients outside of the Denver area. Many people in immigration court proceedings have valid legal claims to remain in the United States but are unable to argue their cases effectively absent legal expertise in complex U.S. immigration law. Between 2007 and 2021, only five percent of immigration cases were won without an attorney, while ninety-five percent of cases where people were represented by an attorney were successful. Previous Next

< Back April 12, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES PAIR OF BILLS TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC SECURITY OF COLORADO (Apr. 12) – The House gave preliminary approval to a pair of bills that will extend and increase tax credits for some of the most vulnerable Coloradans. Rep. Tony Exum’s bill, HB19-1013, to extend the low-income child care tax credit would help ease the childcare burden on hardworking families, roughly 32,000, in Colorado for another eight years. “The high cost of child care places a burden on hardworking families in Colorado Springs and our state,” said Rep. Exum, D-Colorado Springs. “I was proud to sponsor this bill when I first got to the state capitol and hope we can continue helping thousands of Coloradan families afford child care every year.” Rep. Exum and then-Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, were the original sponsors of this bill in 2014. HB14-1072 created a tax credit for families that earn $25,000 or less and is equal to 25 percent of the taxpayer’s child care expenses up to $500 for one child or $1,000 for two or more children. The House also approved Rep. Shannon Bird and Rep. Brianna Titone’s bill to boost the supply of affordable housing in the state by expanding the Affordable Housing Tax Credit, which helps leverage private funding for affordable housing projects across the state. “We’ve seen that this is a proven and effective method to helping people access affordable housing and grow the middle class,” said Rep. Bird, D-Westminster. “There is so much extra demand for these grants across the state, so we definitely see a need to expand this tax credit to accommodate the high demand.” The Affordable Housing Tax Credit supports key affordable housing needs such as workforce housing, homeless housing and senior housing across Colorado, and is one of the state’s most effective tools for increasing affordable housing available across the state. Colorado’s Affordable Housing Tax Credit raises private sector equity needed to support the development and preservation of affordable rental housing. It currently is authorized to allocate only $5 million. HB19-1228 would increase the available tax credits to $10 million in 2020-24. “We need to help ease the housing crunch. This bill will help seniors and hardworking people across our state,” said Rep. Titone, D-Arvada. “Access to affordable housing can help grow the middle class and our economy which will give back to Colorado in a lot of different ways.” Between 2015 and 2018, the program supported 4,796 affordable rental units. The development of these homes is estimated to have generated over $1.9 billion in economic impact in Colorado. Both bills were approved by a voice-vote. A final vote will be taken at a later date. Previous Next

< Back March 9, 2020 HOUSE VOTES TO BAN THE GAY AND TRANS PANIC DEFENSE The House today passed Representatives Leslie Herod and Matt Soper’s bipartisan bill to ban the use of the gay and trans panic defense. The House vote was 49-19. “It’s long past time to ban this trans and homophobic defense tactic, “ said Rep. Herod, D-Denver . “A victim’s gender, gender identity or gender expression should never be used to blame a victim for the crime committed against them. We all have the right to a fair trial, and this defense is anything but fair.” The gay and trans panic defense is a legal tactic that has been allowed as a legal defense but that aims to play on the prejudice of jurors against LGTBQ people. HB20-1307 states that evidence about a defendant’s knowledge or discovery of a victim’s gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation can no longer be asserted as a legal defense constituting ‘sudden heat of passion’ in a criminal case. Previous Next