< Back January 26, 2023 Committee Passes Bill to Boost Access to Tax Credits DENVER, CO - The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee today passed legislation requiring employers to provide information on the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit to their employees. “Between a global pandemic and the economic turbulence that followed, many working-class families are still struggling to pay for critical necessities,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley/Evans. “This bill aims to expand awareness of the tax credits we’ve recently increased in order to boost the incomes of more hardworking Coloradans. We’ve built the infrastructure, and now we’re spreading the word so that every Coloradan who is eligible for financial assistance through our tax code knows they can claim their Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.” “One of our top priorities this session is to make Colorado more affordable,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “Under this bill, employers will provide important information to their employees that will connect them with the economic assistance that they are eligible for. Colorado Democrats boosted tax credits for hardworking people by closing loopholes that primarily benefited the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations, now we’re making sure people know they are available to them.” HB23-1006 , which passed by a vote of 11-0, instructs employers to provide information about federal and state earned income tax credits and child tax credits to their employees. The notice must be provided at least once a year in English or any other language used to communicate with the employee. This bill builds on legislation passed by the General Assembly in recent years to make Colorado more affordable for working-class families. Representatives Mary Young and Lindsey Daugherty previously passed SB22-182 to help Coloradans file for and receive their earned income tax credits and child tax credits. Colorado Democrats passed HB20-1420 and HB21-1311 , which doubled the state's Earned Income Tax Credit and funded the Child Tax Credit, saving hundreds of thousands of Colorado families money. ### Previous Next

< Back April 24, 2019 HOUSE APPROVES ROBERTS-JACKSON STUDENT LOAN SERVICER ACCOUNTABILITY BILL Coloradans issued over 1000 complaints against loan services in 2017 (Apr. 24) — The House approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts and Rep. Dominique Jackson that would help prevent fraud and misconduct, and improve transparency on student loan servicers. “By passing this bill we can ensure borrowers are not steered away from the best borrowing option for them and are not the victims of deception,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon. “This is one of the most pressing issues for my generation and people my age are growing frustrated with the inaction of their elected leaders on this issue. Student debt in Colorado has ballooned from $19 billion to over $27 billion in just three years – we can no longer wait to act. This is a crucial step that we can take for generations and generations to come and help borrowers repay their loans as quickly as possible.” This bill would include student loan servicers in the Uniform Consumer Credit Code to establish licensing requirements for these service providers. It also empowers the Colorado Attorney General’s office to field, review, and attempt to resolve any complaints by borrowers against service providers. “I put myself through undergraduate school and a very expensive graduate program. I took out a lot of student loans,” said Rep. Jackson, D-Aurora, told the committee. “It’s not just my colleagues’ generation, it’s mine too. I don’t get to retire because I have this debt and I feel like I will die with this student loan debt.” In 2017, Coloradans issue over 1,000 complaints against loan service providers. That is a 78 percent increase compared to previous years, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. SB19-002 passed on a vote of 40-24 with every House Republican voting to leave student loan borrowers unprotected from fraud and misconduct. The bill goes back to the Senate for approval of amendments. The Senate approved the bill on a bipartisan vote of 27-8 in March. The Senate sponsors are Sen. Faith Winter and Sen. Steve Fenberg. Previous Next

Legislation requires HOAs to provide homeowners with a slate of water-wise landscape designs for lawn replacement < Back May 17, 2023 Signed! Bipartisan Bill to Encourage Water Efficient Landscaping Legislation requires HOAs to provide homeowners with a slate of water-wise landscape designs for lawn replacement BOULDER, CO – Today Governor Polis signed into law Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Representatives Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, and Mandy Lindsay’s, D-Aurora, bipartisan bill to reduce barriers for Colorado homeowners in homeowners associations (HOAs) who wish to replace their lawns with water-wise landscaping. Also sponsored by Senator Perry Will, R-New Castle, SB23-178 promotes water-wise landscaping, emphasizing native plants that better sustain Colorado’s local ecosystems while requiring little or no irrigation. Many homeowners in HOAs want to replace their lawn and save water, but are deterred by obscure HOA approval processes. The bill streamlines this by requiring HOAs to select and pre-approve water-wise landscape designs for homeowners to choose from, as an alternative to getting HOA permission for their own design. “Colorado, like many states in the West, is experiencing prolonged drought. Combined with chronic water overuse, the American West is running out of water,” Jaquez Lewis said. “By making it easier for Colorado homeowners to replace their water-guzzling lawns with water-wise landscapes, we can drastically cut down on our overall water usage while maintaining beautiful, unique yards natural to Colorado's climate.” “As Colorado combats historic drought conditions, water-wise landscaping is a great place to cut back our freshwater usage,” said McCormick. “This law allows almost 3 million Coloradans living in HOAs to have drought-tolerant landscaping options for their lawns, which saves them money and conserves our most precious resource. Beautiful yards don’t have to be water-intensive lawns, and this law reduces barriers to having landscaping that’s eco-conscious, sustainable and biodiverse.” “There are many homeowners who are interested in replacing their water-intensive lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping, but until now it didn’t align with their HOA regulations,” said Lindsay. “Under our new law, homeowners living in HOAs can install and enjoy water-wise yards that require less maintenance than traditional turf lawns and utilize native plants to contribute to our state’s beauty. As we face drought head on, cutting back on our freshwater usage is good for the planet and our wallets.” The bill also prevents an HOA from requiring hardscape on more than 20 percent of a landscape area, and prevents an HOA from prohibiting vegetable gardens in a homeowner’s yard. About half of the water used in single-family homes in Denver goes toward “outdoor use,” according to Denver Water . Last year, the legislature passed legislation to create the Turf Replacement Program , which provides financial incentives for voluntary replacement of irrigated turf with water-wise landscaping. SB23-178 complements that initiative by helping homeowners who may not need financial incentives but are hindered by other barriers. Previous Next

The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Lindsay Gilchrist to save Coloradans money on health care. < Back January 29, 2025 Legislation to Save Coloradans Money on Mental Health Care Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Health & Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Lindsay Gilchrist to save Coloradans money on health care. The bill would reduce health care costs for families by standardizing insurance coverage determinations to ensure that mental health care is based on clinical evidence, not profit margins. HB25-1002 passed by a vote of 13-0. “Coloradans, especially our youth, struggle to access mental health care, and it’s crucial that we increase access to evidence-based mental health care so people can receive the care and treatment they need,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Colorado Democrats have worked hard to improve access to mental health care that Coloradans can afford. This bill will make sure Colorado families get the health care they pay for.” “Inconsistent mental health care coverage leads to delays, denials and treatments being cut short – this bill aims to bridge the gap so Coloradans can receive the care they need when they need it,” said Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver. “Coloradans are nine times as likely to be forced to seek care from an out-of-network provider for mental health care than for primary care – which drives up costs for Coloradans and undermines the importance of mental health care. Our bill standardizes insurance coverage surrounding mental health care, saves Coloradans money and will improve the overall quality of life of those impacted.” HB25-1002 would make sure that insurance companies use transparent, evidence-based criteria when deciding whether mental health care should be covered under an insurance plan. This bill would also codify the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act into state law, requiring mental health services to see the same amount of coverage as physical health services. The goal of HB24-1002 is to ensure that insurance providers are covering mental health care and to limit gaps in insurance coverage for Coloradans. The bill also clarifies state law around mental health parity and requires the use of clinical standards from select national organizations to ensure parity. Previous Next

< Back March 12, 2019 HOUSE PASSES REP. VALDEZ’S BILL TO ADDRESS ANIMAL CRUELTY (Mar 12) – The House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, that seeks to provide more mental health treatment for people convicted of animal cruelty and also bar people convicted of certain kinds of animal cruelty from possession of a pet animal for a period of time while they receive treatment. “The goals of this bill are to remove animals from abusive situations and to identify behaviors that could lead to worse crimes,” said Rep. Valdez. “We should help offenders get the treatment they need so they can re-emerge as productive members of society.” Through HB19-1092, the judge can order the animal cruelty offender to complete a mental health treatment program. “There is absolutely a correlation between crimes against animals and violent crimes such as mass shootings or domestic terrorism,” said Rep. Valdez. A 2014 study of mass school shootings found that 43 percent of shooters had a history of animal abuse. This bill aims to find the underlying causes of the acts of animal cruelty and treat those issues. The bill passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 55-7. It now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back May 21, 2021 ED COMMITTEE MOVES TO PROVIDE IN-STATE TUITION TO MORE AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENTS AND BAN DISCRIMINATORY MASCOTS DENVER, CO– The House Education Committee today advanced two bills sponsored by Rep. Adrienne Benavidez to support American Indian students in Colorado. The first, which is also sponsored by Speaker Alec Garnett, would provide in-state tuition to American Indian students who are members of tribes with historical ties to Colorado, while the second, also sponsored by Rep. Barbara McLachlan, would ban American Indian mascots in Colorado public schools. “We have a long way to go on our path toward doing right by the members of the American Indian tribes that have historically called Colorado home,” said Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Adams County . “But by finally banning the use of discriminatory American Indian caricatures as mascots and giving more indigenous students the opportunity to go to college in Colorado, we’re taking two bold steps forward. Indigenous Coloradans have contributed immensely to our state throughout our history, and today we’re giving a little back to ensure they can continue to contribute in the future.” “Colorado’s colleges and universities are wonderful spaces for learning and growth, and the diversity of their student bodies improve them even more so,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “By ensuring that American Indian students whose tribes have ancestral ties to the land in our state can study here, we’re not only giving back to these tribes from whom so much has been taken, but we’re also enriching the makeup of our institutions of higher learning.” SB21-029 , sponsored by Speaker Garnett and Rep. Benavidez, would require that institutions of higher education adopt policies to charge in-state tuition to Native American students whose tribes have historical ties to Colorado. According to the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs and History Colorado, 48 federally recognized American Indian tribes have historical ties to Colorado. The bill passed by a vote of 7-0. “American Indian mascots create unwelcome and hostile environments for American Indian students, taking a toll on their mental health and academic success,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “As the proud representative of countless members of the Southern Ute tribe, I feel an immense responsibility to ensure indigenous students don’t feel caricatured, ridiculed or discriminated against by the mascots that should make them feel pride in their schools. I’m pleased that we’re one step closer to doing away with them.” SB21-116 , sponsored by Reps. Benavidez and McLachlan, prohibits the use of American Indian mascots in any public school or institution of higher education and establishes a fine for schools that do not comply by June 1, 2022. If any funds are recouped from these fines, they would be deposited in the State Education Fund. The bill passed by a vote of 5-3. This bill follows up on the work of the 2016 Governor’s Commission to Study American Indian Representations in Public Schools which was asked to “facilitate discussion around the use of American Indian imagery and names used by institutions of public education and develop recommendations for the Governor and General Assembly regarding the use of such imagery and names.” The Commission’s number one recommendation was “the elimination of American Indian mascots, imagery, and names, particularly those that are clearly derogatory and offensive, and strongly recommends that communities review their depictions in facilitated public forums.” SB21-116 puts this recommendation into action. Previous Next

< Back October 24, 2019 WATER RESOURCES REVIEW COMMITTEE ADVANCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE WATER MANAGEMENT Committee approves bills to spur innovation in water management, broaden stakeholder engagement and crack down on water speculation DENVER, CO– The Water Resources Review Committee today advanced four bills to improve water management. If approved by the legislature next session, the bills would encourage innovation in water management, include additional stakeholder feedback in the Upper Basin States’ Drought Contingency Plan and study how the state can better enforce anti-water speculation statutes. “From outdoor recreation to agriculture, our state’s water resources are critical for almost every aspect of our economy and daily life,” said Water Resources Review Committee Vice Chair Rep. Dylan Roberts (D-Avon). “We have an incredible opportunity to pilot and deploy new technologies that could revolutionize and improve how we manage and conserve Colorado’s most essential natural resource, our water. The bills we passed today will guarantee communities across the state have a voice in discussions about water management and will ensure that we are using all the tools we have available to protect our water from out-of-state special interests and manage our water appropriately.” 1) The committee approved legislation to spur the deployment of new technologies that could improve water management. Innovative technologies, such as blockchain, telemetry, improved sensors and advanced aerial observation platforms can enhance monitoring, management, conservation and trading of water resources. The bill asks the University of Colorado-Boulder and Colorado Water Institute at Colorado State University to conduct feasibility studies to pilot deployments of the new technologies. While not limited to specific technologies, the study will investigate: Sensors to monitor surface and groundwater use Direct or remote sensors to monitor water quality Cellular and satellite telemetry systems allowing remote access to sensor data Aerial observation platforms, including high-altitude balloons and unmanned aerial vehicles Satellite-based remote sensing and water resource forecasting technologies Blockchain-based documentation, communication and authentication of data regarding water use, trading and conservation Colorado has become a national leader in developing innovative uses for blockchain and has become a hub for startup technology firms. Last session, the General Assembly passed a law to study how blockchain can be used in agriculture and also clarified the regulatory environment for digital tokens and cryptocurrencies, which are based on blockchain. 2) The committee also advanced legislation that would require the Colorado Water Conservation Board to broaden stakeholder engagement by using established procedures for public comment when adopting a final or significantly amended water resources demand management program. This year, the states of the upper Colorado River Basin, including Colorado, adopted the Colorado Upper Basin States’ Drought Contingency Plan, which necessitated the development of water demand management programs. Last session, the General Assembly passed SB19-212 , which appropriated $1.7 million from the General Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for the Colorado Water Conservation Board to develop a water demand management program. 3) Legislation to study ways to improve the state’s anti-water speculation statutes also moved forward. Current Colorado law prohibits speculation in water rights, but lawmakers have heard concerns from Western Slope communities and from residents in other parts of the state that financial interests are purchasing water rights with the intention of holding them for a period of time and then selling the water for profit when the price increases. The bill requires the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources to convene a working group during the 2020 interim to explore ways to strengthen water anti-speculation laws. 4) The committee also approved a bill to increase the number of state water well inspectors. The bill also requires the state board of examiners of water well construction and pump installation contractors to create new rules to identify and prioritize the inspection of high-risk water wells. Previous Next

< Back August 11, 2020 JOINT RELEASE: AURORA LAWMAKERS PRAISE AG INVESTIGATION INTO APD DENVER, CO – Lawmakers representing Aurora today released the following joint statement after Attorney General Phil Weiser announced an ongoing patterns and practices review of the Aurora Police Department, as authorized under Section 13 of SB20-217: “Today’s announcement that the Attorney General’s Office has an ongoing patterns and practices investigation into the Aurora Police Department after several high-profile cases involving community members of color, represents a monumental shift in the future of policing in Colorado. “The inclusion of pattern and practice investigative authority was one of the most crucial provisions in SB20-217, the police accountability bill we passed earlier this year. Rather than focusing only on individual issues, this review will examine the behavior of the police department as a whole, potentially going back several years. To achieve full accountability and to eliminate structural and systemic problems in an organization, it is necessary to look broadly and deeply, and this is exactly what we expect this investigation to do. “We also fully support the reforms that Chief Vanessa Wilson is seeking to make, and we will work to ensure that the department cooperates with the Attorney General’s investigation. Aurora is hurting, and we believe that this investigation and the cultural changes we hope it will bring can heal the deep wounds that divide our beloved community.” The Aurora delegation includes Reps. Janet Buckner, Dominique Jackson, Mike Weissman, Jovan Melton, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet; and Sens. Nancy Todd, Rhonda Fields, and Jeff Bridges. In recent days, the lawmakers have worked with the Attorney General’s office to explore possible grounds for a patterns and practices investigation based on the department’s extensive record of unchecked, systemic racism. Section 13 of SB20-217 makes it unlawful in Colorado for any government authority, including law enforcement departments, to “engage in a pattern or practice of conduct by peace officers… that deprives persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution of the United States or the State of Colorado.” The provision grants the Attorney General the authority, when there is reasonable cause, to file a civil action to eliminate the pattern or practice. Previous Next

House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Senator Dylan Roberts, Representatives Elizabeth Velasco, Katie Stewart and Meghan Lukens today share their legislative priorities on the first day of the Second Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly. < Back January 14, 2026 Western Slope Democrats Kick Off Legislative Session DENVER, CO – House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Senator Dylan Roberts, Representatives Elizabeth Velasco, Katie Stewart and Meghan Lukens today share their legislative priorities on the first day of the Second Regular Session of the 75th General Assembly. “We’re excited to begin another session with Democrats and Republicans from the Western Slope working together on the issues that matter most for our rural and mountain communities,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Affordable housing is top of mind for many, and this year, we’re building upon our efforts to spur the creation of more housing that Coloradans can afford. We’re focused on bringing down costs, equipping workers with the skills and tools they need for good-paying jobs and protecting our public lands.” “I’m looking forward to another session of working for our rural and mountain communities. That will mean moving legislation forward that lowers the cost of living, protects our water, and supports our Western Slope economies and working families,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. “I’m excited to be the sponsor of Senate Bill One, a bipartisan effort to cut red-tape to allow communities to access more housing construction funding, and another bill that will lower costs for small agriculture producers.” “While we’ve made important progress to save you money on everyday necessities such as rent and groceries, hardworking families are still feeling the squeeze,” said Representative Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “This session, we will double down on our affordability efforts to save you money where it matters the most, including health care and child care.” “Coloradans expect us to get the job done, and we’ll work across the aisle to find solutions and be a strong voice for rural Colorado,” said Representative Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “I’m looking forward to representing our communities this year and growing our rural economies so that everyone has a fair shot and an opportunity to thrive. I’ll work to bring down costs, create jobs and protect our public lands.” “We’ve invested more than ever before in Colorado’s public K-12 schools, and the new school finance formula drives more dollars directly to our rural school districts,” said Representative Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “This session, we will protect the critical investments we’ve made in K-12 education and higher education, prioritize outdoor recreation and make our state more affordable for all.” Previous Next

< Back July 1, 2021 GOV SIGNS BILLS TO PROTECT AND BETTER SERVE COLORADANS WITH DISABILITIES DENVER, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation that will ensure that state resources are in compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws and revamp training to improve first responder interactions with people with disabilities. “Every Coloradan should be able to access state services and information online, but not all state websites and services are accessible to people with disabilities,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Denver. “During the pandemic, some Coloradans weren’t able to get critical information or had to wait longer to access it because state websites didn’t meet accessibility standards. The bill Governor Polis signed today will bring Colorado’s state government inline with federal standards to ensure everyone can use and access state services online.” HB21-1110 , sponsored by Representative David Ortiz, requires that all rules promulgated by Colorado departments are at least as strong as the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law tasks state agencies with developing an accessibility plan that enables an individual with a disability to access digital content with the same privacy and ease of use as individuals without disabilities. “Today, Colorado is taking an important step forward to ensure that first responders have the training and tools necessary to guarantee safe and appropriate outcomes while interacting with people with disabilities,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Denver. “This new law will bring people together and give voice to people in the disability community to better inform law enforcement, prevent tragedies and protect people with disabilities, who we know are disproportionately more likely to be the victims of crimes and have unique needs and considerations for preserving their wellbeing.” HB21-1122 , sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich and Colin Larson, establishes a twelve-person commission tasked with performing a detailed study of existing training for peace officers on interactions with persons with disabilities and provide a report to the POST Board by February 28, 2022. The bill requires the resulting curriculum be implemented for basic training and the annual in-service training by July 1, 2022. Once the curriculum is implemented, the commission must monitor the training process, assess any challenges and the effectiveness of the training to present and suggest to the POST Board. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to bolster basic access at places of public accommodations for people with disabilities. < Back April 10, 2023 Ortiz’s Bill to Improve Basic Access for People with Disabilities Moves Forward DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to bolster basic access at places of public accommodations for people with disabilities. “Coloradans living with a disability should be able to visit and enjoy the restaurants, museums and retail stores in their community without having to worry about whether they'll be able to navigate the space,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton. “This legislation empowers Coloradans living with a disability by allowing them to pursue legal action if a public accommodation space is not accessible. I’m committed to making our public places more accessible and accommodating so they can be enjoyed by everyone.” HB23-1032 ensures that individuals with a disability have legal recourse if they are discriminated against by any place of public accommodation. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network , places of public accommodation include restaurants, theaters, doctors' offices, pharmacies, hotels, retail stores, museums, libraries, amusement parks, private schools and day care centers. HB23-1032 aims to improve accessibility for all Coloradans. Previous Next

< Back May 18, 2021 HOUSE BOOSTS LOW-INCOME UTILITY ASSISTANCE & SNAP ENROLLMENT DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to significantly boost low-income utility bill payment assistance across Colorado. “Too many Coloradans don’t have enough resources right now to make ends meet and are at risk of falling further behind as our economy recovers,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Our direct assistance programs are badly underfunded and rely on a volatile funding mechanism that isn’t meeting the needs of our communities. This bill will help Colorado build back stronger and forge a more inclusive recovery by boosting direct utility bill payment assistance to low income Coloradans.” HB21-1105 creates a sustainable funding source and expands eligibility for low-income assistance programs. The existing funding mechanism for low-income utility assistance is volatile and is not keeping up with the need in Colorado communities for direct assistance. Dozens of counties receive less than 50 percent of their requested energy assistance funds. While exempting low-income customers, the bill directs utilities to collect a $1 fee on electricity customers and a $1 fee on gas customers, which will be used to finance direct utility bill payment assistance and weatherization retrofits to low-income households. The bill also creates a mechanism for cross enrollment with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to maximize the number of eligible Colorado recipients. It also allows water utilities to collect a charge to finance direct water utility assistance for low-income customers. Even before the pandemic hit, one in four Colorado households struggled to pay monthly utility bills. In the last year, Energy Outreach Colorado, which has received federal and state stimulus funding through recent legislation, paid $13 million in bills for 25,000 households, indicating the need for a sustainable funding source. Among the tens of thousands the energy assistance nonprofit serves are seniors, Coloradans with disabilities, and essential frontline workers. Previous Next