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GOP bill will cut food assistance and kick Coloradans off their health care < Back May 29, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: General Assembly Dems Oppose GOP Bill to Strip Health Care from Coloradans and Raise Costs DENVER, CO - General Assembly Democrats today sent a letter to Colorado’s congressional delegation, calling on them to oppose President Trump’s and congressional Republicans’ plan to kick Coloradans off their health care and cut food assistance to provide tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. In the letter, the General Assembly Democrats wrote: We strongly oppose President Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ tax ploy that will kick Coloradans off Medicaid and cut food assistance to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. The legislation threatens the Colorado way of life by making it harder for hardworking families to put food on the table and access medical care. Under the ruse of “cutting waste, fraud and abuse,” the bill is nothing more than tax cuts and deregulation for the richest people in our nation at the expense of those most in need. To our Democratic Senators and Representatives, we are proud that you strongly oppose this cruel legislation that will kick Coloradans off their health care and increase costs and hardship for everyone except the ultra wealthy. If the Senate passes this bill, we hope Representatives Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank and Lauren Boebert do what is right for Colorado, vote no when it returns to the House, and use their power to protect health care for Coloradans instead of taking it away. The full text of the letter is below: Dear Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Diana DeGette, Rep. Joe Neguse, Rep. Jeff Hurd, Rep. Lauren Boebert, Rep. Jeff Crank, Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Brittany Pettersen and Rep. Gabe Evans: We strongly oppose President Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ tax ploy that will kick Coloradans off Medicaid and cut food assistance to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. The legislation threatens the Colorado way of life by making it harder for hardworking families to put food on the table and access medical care. Under the ruse of “cutting waste, fraud and abuse,” the bill is nothing more than tax cuts and deregulation for the richest people in our nation at the expense of those most in need. Colorado is a donor state, which means we pay more in federal taxes than we receive back in federal funding. As state lawmakers tasked with fighting for Colorado, we are taking a stand. Coloradans want their federal dollars working for them in our clinics, hospitals, and food pantries – not frozen by Washington bureaucrats or lining the pockets of billionaires. Kicking qualified Coloradans off Medicaid The Republicans’ plan will have devastating effects on every sector of Colorado’s health care system. Colorado hospitals, clinics, and other providers could lose up to $990 million in annual federal Medicaid funding. We made responsible choices in a tight budget year to protect Medicaid coverage for our most vulnerable community members and to provide emergency financial support to safety net providers, but this level of cost shifting will be too much for the state budget to bear. Proposed cuts to Medicaid will result in an estimated 140,000-230,000 Coloradans suddenly losing health care coverage (11-18 percent of current Medicaid participants). Preventive health care coverage provided through Medicaid saves Coloradans money and leads to better health outcomes. The burdensome administrative barriers proposed in this bill, such as more frequent redeterminations and increased paperwork, will mean that Coloradans who are qualified for Medicaid coverage will have a difficult time receiving it or affording it. The Republicans’ budget also requires new copays for low-income Coloradans, increasing medical costs for families with incomes as low as $22,000 per year. This will force hardworking Coloradans to delay necessary procedures or care and ultimately rely more on emergency room care, straining rural and other hospitals that are already near the breaking point. If this bill passes, critical health care facilities will close their doors, and it will jeopardize access to life-saving care for everyone. The bill prohibits federal reimbursements to Planned Parenthood for family planning and preventive care like screenings and tests, which will disproportionately impact lower-income women and people of color. By placing restrictions on premium tax credits, this bill will also increase insurance costs for Coloradans and undermine insurance coverage for life-saving reproductive health care, including abortion. Choosing billionaires over hungry kids and hardworking families A drastic and unnecessary overhaul of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance and Program (SNAP) will drive up state and county costs in Colorado by approximately $260 million annually. The Republican’s bill also creates higher eligibility requirements for food assistance programs, making it harder for Coloradans over 55 and families with children between 8 and 18 years old to receive the support they need. The Biden administration increased SNAP benefits by 21 percent in 2021, which kept 3 million people out of poverty . The Republicans’ bill blocks that administrative power altogether. To our Democratic Senators and Representatives, we are proud that you strongly oppose this cruel legislation that will kick Coloradans off their health care and increase costs and hardship for everyone except the ultra wealthy. If the Senate passes this bill, we hope Representatives Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank and Lauren Boebert do what is right for Colorado, vote no when it returns to the House, and use their power to protect health care for Coloradans instead of taking it away. Signed, Colorado State Senators and Representatives House Speaker Julie McCluskie, House District 13 Senate President James Coleman, Senate District 33 House Majority Leader Monica Duran, House District 23 Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, Senate District 32 Senator Judy Amabile, Senate District 18 Senator Matt Ball, Senate District 31 Senator Jeff Bridges, Senate District 26 Senator Lisa Cutter, Senate District 20 Senator Jessie Danielson, Senate District 22 Senator Lindsey Daugherty, Senate District 19 Senator Tony Exum, Sr., Senate District 11 Senator Julie Gonzales, Senate District 34 Senator Nick Hinrichsen, Senate District 3 Senator Iman Jodeh, Senate District 29 Senator Cathy Kipp, Senate District 14 Senator Chris Kolker, Senate District 16 Senator Janice Marchman, Senate District 15 Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Senate District 21 Senator Kyle Mullica, Senate District 24 Senator Dylan Roberts, Senate District 8 Senator Marc Snyder, Senate District 12 Senator Tom Sullivan, Senate District 27 Senator Katie Wallace, Senate District 17 Senator Mike Weissman, Senate District 28 Senator Faith Winter, Senate District 25 Representative Shannon Bird, House District 29 Representative Andrew Boesenecker, House District 53 Representative Kyle Brown, House District 12 Representative Sean Camacho, House District 6 Representative Chad Clifford, House District 37 Representative Regina English, House District 17 Representative Cecelia Espenoza, House District 4 Representative Lorena Garcia, House District 35 Representative Lindsay Gilchrist, House District 8 Representative Eliza Hamrick, House District 61 Representative Jamie Jackson, House District 41 Representative Junie Joseph, House District 10 Representative Sheila Lieder, House District 28 Representative Mandy Lindsay, House District 42 Representative William Lindstedt, House District 33 Representative Meghan Lukens, House District 26 Representative Javier Mabrey, House District 1 Representative Matthew Martinez, House District 62 Representative Tisha Mauro, House District 46 Representative Karen McCormick, House District 11 Representative Amy Paschal, House District 18 Representative Jacque Phillips, House District 31 Representative Naquetta Ricks, House District 40 Representative Manny Rutinel, House District 32 Representative Gretchen Rydin, House District 38 Representative Emily Sirota, House District 9 Representative Lesley Smith, House District 49 Representative Katie Stewart, House District 59 Representative Rebekah Stewart, House District 30 Representative Tammy Story, House District 25 Representative Brianna Titone, House District 27 Representative Alex Valdez, House District 5 Representative Elizabeth Velasco, House District 57 Representative Jenny Willford, House District 34 Representative Steven Woodrow, House District 2 Representative Yara Zokaie, House District 52 Previous Next

< Back September 7, 2021 DEMOCRATIC WOMEN’S CAUCUS OF COLORADO CO-CHAIRS’ STATEMENT ON SB8 DENVER, CO– Representatives Lisa Cutter and Monica Duran, the Co-Chairs of Democratic Women’s Caucus of Colorado, today released the following statement on SB8, the Texas law that will ban abortions as soon as six weeks–before many women know they are pregnant: “The Democratic Women’s Caucus of Colorado strongly supports reproductive rights and the freedom for women to choose what’s best for their bodies. We are outraged at the passage of SB8, the Texas law banning abortions at six weeks. This law is another way to suppress, control, and shame women over their healthcare choices. Despite last week’s unprecedented and unconstitutional attack on abortion rights, Colorado will remain a safe place for patients to access abortion. Coloradans understand that the strength and independence of women promote a healthier and more economically vibrant society by every measure. We will continue to actively work to safeguard women’s rights to have autonomy over their own bodies and uphold the Colorado way of life, putting the health and safety of women first.” Previous Next

< Back July 6, 2022 ESGAR, CARAVEO, MULLICA PRAISE POLIS ACTION TO PROTECT ABORTION PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS DENVER, CO – Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, sponsor of the Colorado Reproductive Health Equity Act , pediatrician Yadira Caraveo, and ER Nurse Kyle Mullica today released the following statements praising Governor Jared Polis’ executive order to protect health care providers and patients’ medical privacy. “I sponsored the Reproductive Health Equity Act to codify reproductive rights into Colorado law because the government should never interfere in a patient’s private medical decision,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Governor Polis’ action today will protect patients and providers from actions taken by Republican state legislatures to criminalize abortion, force rape victims and children to give birth, and prosecute patients who travel out of their states to access an abortion. With more people traveling to our state to get the care they need, Colorado is taking a stand to protect patients’ rights and their private medical information.” “As a doctor, I am appalled that GOP politicians in Republican-led states are limiting women’s freedom to choose and providers’ ability to provide care,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, a primary-care physician. “It is a doctor’s responsibility to care for their patient, but five Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court have allowed nearly half of all states to imprison doctors for providing life-saving medical care. The executive order Governor Polis issued today will protect doctors and pregnant women seeking life saving care from the state and local governments wanting to use their private medical information to put them in prison. Congress must follow Colorado’s lead and protect women’s ability to choose their own reproductive futures.” “Colorado strongly supports reproductive freedom and the right to choose, and I am proud of our work at the state capitol to protect abortion access and codify these rights into state law,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, an ER nurse. “We now live in a terrifying reality where abortion patients in Colorado and the providers who care for them could be arrested in states where Republican legislatures have banned abortion. I serve on the House Health and Insurance Committee where earlier this year every Repubican lawmaker on the committee voted to ban abortion without exception and force rape victims and children to give birth. I’m proud that our governor is taking additional action today to protect providers’ licenses and patients’ privacy, and I’ll continue fighting bills from Republican lawmakers to ban abortion in Colorado.” The Reproductive Health Equity Act updates Colorado’s laws to protect reproductive rights and codifies the fundamental right to choose to continue a pregnancy and give birth, or to have an abortion. Colorado Democrats are committed to ensuring abortion remains safe, legal, and accessible. Recently, House Democrats defeated three Republican-led bills that would have jeopardized that right, including: HB22-1079 , which would have banned abortion in Colorado with no exceptions. The bill explicitly directed Colorado to disregard federal law and federal court rulings and would subject Colorado judges who support access to abortion to impeachment. In addition, it would have allowed a private right of action against abortion providers, and potentially patients too. HB22-1047 , which would have banned abortion in Colorado with no exceptions. The bill would have also criminalized miscarriages and would have subjected abortion providers to imprisonment. The bill would have forced rape victims and children to give birth. HB22-1075 , which would have established a registry to track and surveil abortion patients and providers. It also would have created a roadmap for abortion opponents to identify and further threaten abortion patients and providers, and facilitate their prosecution should Colorado ban ever abortion. Previous Next

< Back February 3, 2022 GARNETT AND ESGAR THANK PRESIDENT GARCIA FOR HIS SERVICE TO COLORADO DENVER, CO – Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver, and Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, today released the following statements after Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, announced he will resign on February 23 to accept a position with the Department of Defense. “President Garcia has served Colorado and our nation with distinction, and it has been a privilege to work alongside him to move Colorado forward,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “We have so much to be proud of–from saving people money on health care and prescription drugs to expanding access to substance use treatment, Colorado is a better state because of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m grateful for President Garcia’s service to our state and our nation, and I congratulate him on this important appointment. The Biden Administration is lucky to have him on their team!” “I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together, and I couldn’t be more excited to see my good friend from Pueblo continue his long career of service to our nation at the Pentagon,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Thank you President Garcia for your dedication to Colorado, and for everything you’ve done to support Pueblo and our Southern Colorado communities. I will miss the President’s leadership and ceaseless determination to fight for Pueblo, and I wish him the best as he continues serving our nation at the Pentagon.” Previous Next

< Back April 4, 2019 HOUSE DEMS REACH BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING The House of Representatives is currently debating the “Long Bill” (Apr. 4) – Speaker KC Becker, Majority Leader Alec Garnett, Joint Budget Committee members Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo and Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, reached a bipartisan agreement with the leadership of all four legislative caucuses on transportation funding this afternoon. “We heard loud and clear that Coloradans wanted to find funding for transportation without threatening the monumental investments we’re already making in this year’s budget for education and higher-ed. So we all came to the table,” said JBC Vice-chair Daneya Esgar. “The fact that we were able to fund education and transportation in a responsible manner delivers a win for all Coloradans.” This year’s budget includes a total increased investment in K-12 education of $335.9 million, including funding for the implementation of full-day kindergarten as well as a $77 million boost in the budget stabilization factor buy-down. This budget also invests an additional $120 million in higher education to keep tuition flat for Colorado’s college students. “After careful discussion, we were able to craft a responsible bipartisan agreement that increases funding for transportation without jeopardizing K-12 or higher-ed funding,” said Rep. Chris Hansen. The House lawmakers are currently debating the “long bill” – the legislative budget package. “This is a responsible way to put funding toward roads, bridges and transit,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “I thank members of the JBC, Rep. Garnett and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and in the other chamber for their bipartisan efforts.” “This responsible agreement will keep Colorado on the right path and better fund crumbling roads, bridges and contribute more toward transit,” said Majority Leader Alec Garnett. “I thank the JBC members Esgar and Hansen, Speaker Becker and our Democratic and Republican colleagues for working together to get this done.” Democrats at the legislature are focused on responsibly managing tax-payer dollars. CDOT $9 billion backlog of maintenance projects. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation to address the rise in attempts to ban certain books from Colorado libraries. < Back May 7, 2024 Bill to Protect Colorado Libraries From Book Bans Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to address the rise in attempts to ban certain books from Colorado libraries. SB24-216, sponsored by Representatives Junie Joseph and Eliza Hamrick, would ensure library resources would not be removed from public libraries unless in accordance with the library board’s policy, and establishes safeguards for such policies. “As more states across the nation move to ban books, we have to protect free speech and ensure Coloradans have access to information from a variety of sources and diverse perspectives,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “Each and every community deserves to be represented in public spaces like libraries, and this bill protects our fundamental freedom to read and demonstrates our commitment to protecting our neighbors.” “Books offer a diverse perspective from many voices, and banning certain books would limit Coloradans’ ability to read and research a variety of topics,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “This bill protects our community members, upholds our freedoms and ensures that books remain accessible to all.” SB24-216 , passed the House by a vote of 43 to 18 and would require libraries to establish written policies for the acquisition, retention, and display of library sources, as well as their removal upon the request of a patron. Libraries would not be allowed to remove content based on the demographics of the author or based on partisan disapproval of the topic. According to the American Library Association , Colorado experienced a 143 percent increase in book ban attempts in 2023. Under this bill, libraries may only remove materials based on the policies their board adopts, and librarians would be protected from retaliation, discrimination, or termination for refusal to remove any resource if such a removal is not in accordance with the board’s policy. Additionally under this bill, a person who requests that any material be removed must live within the service area of the library, and their requests would be public under the Colorado Open Records Act. For example, if a person requests a book be removed from a Jefferson County Public Library, they must reside within Jefferson County for the request to be considered. Previous Next

< Back April 26, 2022 SCHOOL FINANCE ACT MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO – The House advanced the 2022 School Finance Act today on a preliminary vote. This bill increases K-12 public school funding by an average of $545 per pupil. “The 2022 School Finance Act is a record investment in our public schools to improve educational outcomes for students,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This bill increases funding for K-12 schools so our districts can maintain small class sizes, boost teacher pay and make sure classrooms have the resources they need to create a high-quality public education program.” “Colorado is investing in teachers, students and K-12 public schools,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This year’s school finance act will increase per pupil funding by an average of $545 and this funding can be used to reduce classroom sizes and increase teacher pay. Investing in our schools better prepares Colorado’s next generation of leaders, thinkers and learners.” HB22-1390 , sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Barbara McLachlan, sets funding levels for Colorado’s public school districts. This year, the bill increases total funding for public schools by $431 million to $8.4 billion and reduces the Budget Stabilization Factor by over $180 million to the lowest level since it was created. The increases in funding for K-12 public schools will result in an increase of $545 per student. This funding can be used to reduce class sizes, increase teacher pay and provide individualized support to help students learn. The School Finance Act was amended to incorporate the text of HB22-1002 , which lifts the current cap on the number of students who can participate in the ASCENT concurrent enrollment program and makes it available to more postsecondary students. This program saves Coloradans money as they pursue their higher education degrees. The bill makes additional changes to support students and school districts, such as extending the K-5 Social and Emotional Health Pilot Program and the Dyslexia Screening and Intervention Program. It also strengthens the successful Educator Recruitment and Retention grant by encouraging recipients to teach for three years in areas where there are educator shortages. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Dylan Roberts: The 2022 legislative session concludes with progress on many fronts May 17, 2022 See more The following op-ed was published in The Steamboat Pilot & Today. We just concluded one of the most impactful and bipartisan legislative sessions in recent memory. We responded to Colorado’s most pressing needs and passed legislation that will move our state forward. This session focused on saving Coloradans money, improving public safety, building a healthier Colorado and investing in our students. As always, the bills I introduced and led to passage were based on the ideas directly from Eagle and Routt counties residents. Here is some of what got done: Historic investments in housing Ensuring that all Coloradans have an affordable place to call home was my top priority this year. I am thrilled to say that this legislative session represents Colorado’s largest single-year investment in affordable housing. Over the past year, I was honored to chair the Affordable Housing Task Force — a bipartisan panel of legislators, housing experts and local officials tasked with making policy recommendations on housing — and every single one of our recommendations passed with bipartisan sponsorship. In total, we allocated $428 million for housing projects in local communities, with dedicated funds for our rural and rural-resort communities who are grappling with the housing crisis most acutely. Additionally, one of my priority bills to allow counties — with voter approval — to use lodging tax revenue for housing and other workforce needs was signed into law in April. Saving Coloradans and small businesses money In January, we set out to save Coloradans money. We did just that. Because of our work, Coloradans will receive a refund check of close to $500 for single filers and $1,000 for joint filers in September. We lowered property taxes for residential and commercial properties by over $700 million, saving the average homeowner $274. Families will save thousands of dollars a year with free universal preschool and with more affordable child care — a product of my first bill this year, which was an idea directly from my district. We also reduced fees for professional licenses and businesses and took action to save people money at the DMV and the gas pump. I also sponsored and passed a bill allowing restaurants to keep $70,000 of their sales taxes this summer. Protecting our environment We all know that wildfire is a constant threat to our communities. That’s why we continued — and expanded — our support for wildfire mitigation and response measures while taking significant steps to combat climate change and protect our air quality. I also furthered my work protecting our Western Slope water. From investing in interstate compact compliance to a statewide program incentivizing municipal turf replacement, I am proud to continue leading the charge to protect our state’s most precious resource. Public safety I worked very hard on several bills seeking to make our communities safer. My bills cracking down on retail theft, protecting victims’ rights and increasing funding for police and EMS providers all passed. We also passed a comprehensive bill tackling the nationwide fentanyl crisis, which will drastically increase penalties for those who deal fentanyl and dedicate desperately needed resources for addiction treatment, Narcan supplies and more. While this bill is not perfect, it is a necessary step in addressing this lethal drug’s impact on our communities. Historic education investments As I wrote last month, this year’s state budget represents the largest investment in our K-12 system in over a decade, resulting in increased teacher pay and more support for our students, educators and education staff. Mental and behavioral health This year’s session made transformational investments to improve Colorado’s mental health system. In total, $450 million was dedicated to mental health services, which includes assembling the new Behavioral Health Administration, additional mental health beds in our rural communities, recruiting behavioral health professionals, and legal updates making the system more accessible. Standing up for rural Colorado I have always worked to make sure that our region does not get left behind in the halls of the Capitol and this year was no different. One of my passed bills invests $15 million into transitioning communities like Hayden, Oak Creek and Craig, so they can attract businesses and help workers with the energy transition and keep good jobs right here. We also passed bills supporting our agriculture producers, fought for increased funding to help ranchers mitigate the impact of the voter-imposed reintroduction of wolves, and I supported efforts to encourage more geothermal energy development right here in rural Colorado. I now look forward to being home and spending time with family, friends and all of you. As always, I invite you to contact me with feedback, questions, or if you need assistance with your state government. Join me for an upcoming town hall meeting or reach out directly at 970-846-3054 or Dylan.Roberts.House@state.co.us . Previous Next

Meeting the moment and governing responsibly in a crisis. Colorado Democrats passed responsible laws to protect the health and safety of hardworking Coloradans and get our state back on track. DOWNLOAD

< Back May 3, 2022 STACKABLE CREDENTIALS BILL PASSES HOUSE Legislation invests $2.6 million of federal pandemic relief toward creating education to workforce pathways DENVER, CO – The House passed a bill today to elevate student-to-career pathways and boost Colorado’s workforce. SB22-192, sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar, expands stackable credential pathways so students have more educational flexibility. “Whether you’re headed back to school or switching careers entirely, stackable credentials offer much needed career flexibility for Coloradans,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo . “Our bill makes it easier for students seeking high-demand careers to have their on-the-job training and previous experience count toward degrees and professional credentials as they upskill and reskill. Sometimes life gets in the way of your educational plans, and alongside postsecondary institutions and workforce development organizations, we’re making career pathways more efficient and flexible so Coloradans can enter and re-enter the workforce prepared.” Stackable Credentials : SB22-192 , sponsored by Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Marc Catlin passed the House by a vote of 53 to 12. This bill would expand stackable credential pathways to help Coloradans seeking to further their education or switch careers get the training and credentials they need to land jobs in high-demand industries. This legislation was developed based on recommendations by the state’s Student Success and Workforce Revitalization Task Force , established by HB21-1330 . This bill aims to make it easier for students to obtain and receive credit for critical training and experience prioritized by Colorado employers. Stackable credentials are useful because they take less time to obtain than a full degree, while still demonstrating skills or competencies that employers are looking for. Previous Next

The House Transportation, Housing, & Local Government Committee today unanimously passed a bipartisan bill to expand property tax exemptions for nonprofit housing developers to build up Colorado’s affordable housing stock. The bill passed by a vote of 12-0. < Back February 28, 2023 Property Tax Exemptions for Affordable Housing Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing, & Local Government Committee today unanimously passed a bipartisan bill to expand property tax exemptions for nonprofit housing developers to build up Colorado’s affordable housing stock. The bill passed by a vote of 12-0. “One of our main goals this session is to ensure Colorado workers like educators, first responders, and hospitality workers have the opportunity to buy a home within their communities,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield . “As the cost to purchase land rises, nonprofits and other affordable housing developers are increasingly reliant on tools that allow them to save on costs and contribute to our affordable housing inventory. Expanding on existing property tax exemptions for nonprofits incentivizes more affordable housing development, reducing financial barriers so more Coloradans can become homeowners and build wealth.” HB23-1184 , also sponsored by Rep. Lisa Frizell, expands property tax exemptions to include more nonprofit organizations that build and sell affordable housing and increases the Area Median Income to qualify for this housing from 80% to 100%. It also extends the exemption period from five years to 10 years to better reflect the development timeline for larger affordable housing projects. The bill would create a new property tax exemption for land owned by community land trusts and other nonprofit affordable homeownership providers that develop permanently affordable for-sale homes. This exemption only applies to the land and not the home. The National Low Income Housing Coalition ranked Colorado as the 8th least affordable state in 2022 and stated that the average renter needed to work 2.3 full-time jobs at minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom rental. Data from the American Community Survey demonstrates the racial inequality when it comes to homeownership with 71 percent of non-Hispanic White Coloradans owning their home compared to only 51 percent of Hispanic and 43 percent of Black Coloradans. Previous Next

HB25-1184 will allow certain senior living facilities to offer community-based care to seniors awaiting admission < Back May 19, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Bipartisan Bill to Support Colorado Seniors COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed bipartisan legislation to allow some senior living facilities to offer community-based programs and services to seniors waiting to be admitted. “As the demand for senior living facilities increases, we’re creating more options for older Coloradans on the waiting list to access programs and services offered by facilities,” said Rep. Amy Paschal, D-Colorado Springs . “From accessible transportation and nutrition support to socialization opportunities, community-based services are incredibly beneficial to older Coloradans. This law expands opportunities for older Coloradans to access community-based services that help them lead healthier, stronger lives.” “The in-between time from knowing senior care is necessary and actually being admitted to care programs can be long and very difficult,” said Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco. “Opportunities to socialize, access transportation and nutrition support are incredibly beneficial services that help older Coloradans lead healthier, fuller lives.” HB25-1184 , also sponsored by Representative Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, and Senator John Carson, R-Douglas County, allows for the expansion of community-based care services offered by senior living facilities to older Coloradans waiting to be admitted to these facilities. Colorado has a handful of life care institutions, sometimes located in smaller or rural communities, that are supportive living facilities for seniors who pay one-time admission. Waitlists for life care institutions can be long, especially in rural or underserved areas. This legislation supports the well-being of those waiting to be admitted by expanding access to care services like transportation, social programs, and nutrition counseling. Previous Next