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< Back May 27, 2020 2 CRITICAL CHILD CARE BILLS ADVANCE Denver, CO– The Public Health Care and Human Services Committee today advanced two bills that would give Colorado families increased options for child care at a time when it is more crucial than ever. Representative Dylan Roberts’ bill would allow home-based child care in Homeowners’ Association Communities, and Representative Mary Young’s bill would extend the licensure exemption for family child care homes to September 2026. Rep. Roberts’ bill passed 10-0. Rep. Young’s bill passed 12-1. “As we work to get our state’s strong economy back on track, it’s more important than ever to ensure that Colorado families have access to child care,” said Rep. Young, D-Greeley. “This bill would ease the burdens of an extensive licensure process for certain family care homes, and will provide much needed relief as we adjust to a new way of life.” “Your zip code or unnecessary regulations should never be what prevents you from getting the child care your family needs to get to work,” said Rep. Roberts, D-Avon. “This bill allows responsible child care providers to safely provide their services in the community that they live in and will incentivize more people to open home child care businesses. We’re working to ensure that Coloradans can get back to work safely, and making child care more accessible and available is an important step in that direction.” SB20-126 would allow a homeowner in a community organized under the “Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act” to operate a licensed family child care home notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the community’s guidelines. Community guidelines on parking, noise, landscaping continue to apply but communities must make reasonable accommodations for fences required by state child care home licensing laws. Licensure requirements for family child care homes are extensive and must include background checks, required training, inspections and more. HB20-1347 would prolong the time period in which certain family child care homes can receive licensure exemptions from the state. Under HB20-1347, family care homes are homes where less than 24-hours of child care is provided. A family care home cannot exceed four children, and no more than two children can be under the age of two. Additionally, the children are not required to be related to the caregiver, but if the caregiver is caring for their own children in addition to non-family members, their own children are included in the four child limit. Previous Next

< Back February 16, 2019 COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL EDUCATION BILL MOVING THROUGH HOUSE Bill to allow students to access the skills and information they need to keep themselves & their peers safe approved on second reading (Feb. 15) – The House approved Rep. Susan Lontine and Rep. Yadira Caraveo’s bill on second reading to expand the content in the comprehensive sexual education that many students in Colorado already receive. This bill does not require schools to teach sex education, however, existing law requires that if they do provide sex education it must be comprehensive. The bill adds consent, defining a healthy relationship, and sexual orientation to the current standards. “Colorado’s students deserve access to age-appropriate, accurate and comprehensive information regarding sex education to keep themselves and their classmates healthy and safe,” said Rep. Lontine, D-Denver. “It’s important that students are taught about consent at a young age so they can advocate for themselves.” Colorado does not have a mandatory sex education requirement. However, existing law does provide a set of standards if school decides to teach about sex education. This bill would increase the ranges of topics to include birth control and pregnancy, abstinence, STD prevention, consent, healthy relationships and sexual orientation. “As a doctor in a clinic, I only have the ability to affect one child and one life at a time,” said Rep. Caraveo, D-Denver . “Schools have the ability to improve the health of hundreds of kids at a time through the ability to provide comprehensive sex ed that will prevent countless young people from facing life altering illnesses or unplanned pregnancies.” This bill would also allocate $1 million in funds to an existing grant program administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for teaching comprehensive sex education. Rural schools and public schools that do not have the resources to offer sex education will be prioritized for receiving this grant money. Some of the common misconceptions about this legislation are around the opt-out options already in place, the content around LGBTQ inclusion, and the definition of a healthy relationship. “I think about this bill and I think about all of the unnecessary hurt that this could have prevented for my mother. That if she had the opportunity in school for somebody to talk to her about healthy relationships, to answer questions about what she was going through. To show her that she’s normal – that nothing is wrong with her – . what could that have done for her?” said Rep, Kyle Mullica, D- Northglenn during a moving speech on the House floor. “And I think about what this bill can do for our LGBTQ students today and the unnecessary pain that it can prevent today.” House Republicans attempted to sabotage this bill on the House floor by introducing a number of politically charged amendments that would have gutted the bill and reflected how out of step they are with everyday Coloradans and students. The bill was approved in an initial House floor vote 35-20 and now will need to be approved by a recorded vote on third reading in the House. ATTACHED: Headshots of Rep. Lontine, Rep. Caraveo and Rep. Mullica ### About the Colorado General Assembly House Democrats Colorado’s 65-member House of Representatives includes 41 Democrats. For current and past House proceedings, go to Comcast Channel 165 or coloradochannel.net . Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/COHouseDems , on Twitter @COHouseDem , and on Instagram @COHouseDemocrats or visit our website at cohousedems.com Previous Next

< Back March 16, 2022 BILL TO BOOST COLORADO WORKFORCE PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – Legislation to boost Colorado’s workforce by breaking down barriers for Coloradans with a criminal history to obtain licensure, certification or registration for many professions and occupations today passed the House unanimously. HB22-1098, sponsored by Representatives Shannon Bird and Jennifer Bacon, would make it easier for Coloradans with unrelated criminal charges to obtain the credentials they need to enter a profession. “This bill will boost our workforce by breaking down unnecessary barriers that prevent people from entering a profession and building a new life,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Under the bill, the Department of Regulatory Affairs will create a standard for Coloradans with criminal records to apply for jobs to make it easier for qualified individuals to pursue careers in critical fields.” “We are excluding too many people from thriving in professions they are qualified for,” said Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “This disproportionately prevents Black and Brown Coloradans from building a better life and entering professions regulated by the state. This bill will begin to open new opportunities for Coloradans who have been involved in the criminal justice system, which will boost our workforce, create jobs and help employers across the state.” HB22-1098 would make it so applicants may only be denied a credential based on their criminal history if that history would hinder their ability to do their job safely and competently. Additionally, the bill allows regulators to issue a conditional credential to a potential applicant with certain guardrails in place. Nearly one in three Coloradans have a criminal record that hinders them from applying for state regulated jobs, including K-12 teaching, child care, health care and other high-demand sectors in Colorado facing workforce shortages. HB22-1098 would make it easier for qualified Coloradans to apply for these jobs if their criminal record does not hinder their ability to do the job safely. Previous Next

< Back May 25, 2021 COLORADO ON TRACK TO PASS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD MAKING FRONT RANGE RAIL A REALITY DENVER, CO– The House Transportation and Local Government Committee today advanced Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and Rep. Matt Gray’s bill to lay the groundwork for the development of a high-speed passenger rail to connect Colorado from our Northern to our Southern borders. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “Front Range Rail has been a priority of my Southern Colorado constituents for years now, and I’m proud we took this bold step forward today,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Keeping Coloradans connected from the New Mexico to the Wyoming borders is good for all Coloradans, and will go a long way toward ensuring that Colorado’s economic growth is shared across the state. Given the President’s passion for passenger rail, it’s more important than ever to lay the groundwork to ensure Colorado is ready to receive and invest federal transportation funds quickly and efficiently.” “Colorado’s transportation systems are lagging behind our neighboring states, and we’re working hard this session to keep our state competitive for years to come,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield. “Developing high-speed passenger rail is just one more step we can take to help lower emissions, boost local economies, and improve mobility for communities across the state. I’m proud of the work we did to make it a reality today.” SB21-238 would create the Front Range Passenger Rail District and tasks it with conducting the necessary research, development, construction, operation and maintenance of the Front Range Rail system, which would connect Coloradans living and working along the I-25 corridor. The bill outlines funding options, and authorizes the District to pursue a sales and use tax that would be subject to voter approval. The District would be overseen by a board of directors that would be instructed to work closely with RTD and Amtrak to ensure the passenger rail and transit systems are compatible and work well for travelers. The bill ensures Colorado will be in position to benefit from the federal government’s proposed investment in railroad development. Previous Next

< Back June 29, 2020 SIGNED! NEW HIGHER ED FUNDING FORMULA AND CRITICAL BILLS TO IMPROVE HIGHER ED ATTAINMENT Denver, CO — Today, at Simply Pure, a marijuana dispensary, Governor Jared Polis signed into law a bill that increases access to the Social Equity license, which makes owning and operating a retail marijuana store accessible to more Coloradans. The bill is sponsored by Representative James Coleman. “All hardworking Coloradans deserve a fair shot at sharing in the prosperity of the booming marijuana industry,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver . “We should not be defined by our past alone, and this bill provides Coloradans who want to make an honest living in the marijuana industry with the opportunity to do so. Creating equal economic opportunity for all makes us stronger. ” “Colorado has led the way for the nation’s fast-changing laws and attitudes towards marijuana,” said Rep. Singer, D-Longmont . “By allowing the Governor to pardon individuals with small possession offenses and improving access and equity in the booming marijuana industry, this bill moves our state boldly forward. The bill signed today is good for small businesses, hardworking Coloradans, and our state’s economy as a whole.” In order to drive socioeconomic equity to the retail marijuana trade, HB20-1424 establishes that marijuana retailers cannot be denied access to the Social Equity license solely based on a prior marijuana conviction. The bill also allows the governor to pardon individuals who were convicted of possession of marijuana for up to two ounces — effectively offering these Coloradans a clean slate. In order to be eligible for the Social Equity license, applicants must be a Colorado resident and one of the following regulations must apply. Applicants must have either: resided in Colorado for 15 years, have been arrested or convicted of a marijuana offense, have a household income that did not exceed a predetermined amount, or hold at least 51 percent of marijuana business license. Marijuana retailers who have a Social Equity license are eligible for the Accelerator Program, which authorizes stores with a Social Equity license to operate under established state laws as long as they are endorsed by an Accelerator Store. Previous Next

< Back March 17, 2020 COLORADO SUPREME COURT ACCEPTS INTERROGATORY OF THE GA DENVER, CO — The Colorado Supreme Court today announced that it would take up the question of whether, under the current circumstances of a declared disaster emergency, the General Assembly can suspend the legislative session and pick up where it left off at a later point. The court accepted the bipartisan interrogatories passed by the General Assembly on Saturday, and the court will be accepting briefs on the case over the next week. “The Constitution gives the legislature 120 calendar days to accomplish the important work our constituents elected us to do,” said Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “We are in an impossible situation of either not taking care of the public’s needs by not passing critical legislation, or not taking care of the public’s needs by continuing our work in the middle of a public health emergency. I’m glad that the court has acted rapidly to take up this question, and hope they will see the wisdom in allowing us to suspend operations during this crisis and come back to continue our work when appropriate.” “We are grateful that the court has taken up our request with such speed and urgency,” said President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo. “It is imperative that we get an answer regarding if the Legislature is Constitutionally permitted to suspend the counting of legislative days during a state emergency. The work we do on behalf of Coloradans is critical to the wellbeing of our state, and we sincerely hope to continue our efforts once public safety is secured.” HJR20-1006 asks the Colorado Supreme Court to answer the following question: Does the provision of section 7 of article V of the state constitution that limits the length of the regular legislative session to “one hundred twenty calendar days” require that those days be counted consecutively and continuously beginning with the first day on which the regular legislative session convenes or may the General Assembly for purposes of operating during a declared disaster emergency interpret the limitation as applying only to calendar days on which the Senate or the House of Representatives, or both, convene in regular legislative session? The Interrogatory argues that “If the General Assembly is required to adjourn for a significant period of time to protect the public health[…] legislators will be unable to serve their constituents by debating and acting on many of the bills introduced during the 2020 regular legislative session, and the citizens who elected those legislators to act on those bills will be deprived of representation by their chosen representatives[…]” The Interrogatory asks the court to determine if the General Assembly should be forced to either reduce the length of the session and thereby fail to meet its responsibility to serve the citizens of the state by passing legislation in the public interest, or jeopardize the constitutionality of that legislation, including the state’s annual budget. Interested parties may file a brief by 5:00 PM on Tuesday March 24, and the Colorado Supreme Court case number is 2020SA100. Previous Next

< Back September 6, 2021 ISABELLA JOY THALLAS ACT GOES INTO EFFECT TOMORROW Law requires gun owners to report lost and stolen firearms DENVER, CO– SB21-078, legislation sponsored by Representatives Tom Sullivan and Leslie Herod to promote responsible gun ownership, will go into effect tomorrow. The new law aims to prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands by requiring gun owners to report to law enforcement within five days of realizing their firearms have been lost or stolen. “Last session, we took historic action to prevent gun violence in Colorado, passing six commonsense laws that will help save lives,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “The law going into effect today is an educational tool that will help keep firearms out of the wrong hands by setting an expectation for gun owners to report when their firearms are lost or have been stolen. No law will prevent every gun death, but we’ve seen that well-crafted policies–like Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law–save lives, and the Isabella Joy Thallas Act will, as well.” “Lost and stolen firearms are found at crime scenes across the country every day, and data shows that tens of thousands of firearms have been stolen in Colorado in recent years,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “Unreported lost or stolen firearms make our communitiees less safe, and it doesn’t have to be that way. Timely reporting of lost or stolen firearms saves lives, helps prevent crime, and it’s the simple and responsible thing to do if you realize your firearm is missing.” 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. Through an amendment, SB21-078 was renamed the ‘Isabella Joy Thallas Act’, in honor of the young woman who was murdered on June 10, 2020 while she and her boyfriend were walking their dog outside of their apartment in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood. The high-powered semi-automatic rifle used in the killing was stolen. Previous Next

The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Regina English and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon that would create the right to visitation for Coloradans who are incarcerated. HB25-1013 passed by a vote of 7-4. < Back February 5, 2025 Right to Visitation, Family Connection Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Regina English and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon that would create the right to visitation for Coloradans who are incarcerated . HB25-1013 passed by a vote of 7-4. “ Family support and connection can have a powerful impact on the success of incarcerated Coloradans, with studies showing it can reduce recidivism by 26 percent so we can help them build a thriving future and keep our communities safer ,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs. “Support from one's closest friends and family can help them cope with the stress of incarceration and foster optimism about life outside of prison. We’re bringing this bill to build stronger, more resilient communities and ensure that Coloradans, no matter if they are incarcerated or not, can stay connected with their support system.” “Currently, withholding family connection is being used as a form of punishment for incarcerated Coloradans who choose not to work or as a tool to control their behavior, which not only exacerbates the mental health crisis in Colorado prisons but also violates the abolishment of slavery,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. “Visitation is an important aspect of rehabilitation, and phone calls and visits from family and loved ones can help incarcerated people survive their sentence. Our bill makes it clear that incarceration does not strip Coloradans of their right to maintain connections with their families and loved ones.” HB25-1013 would create the right to visitation for incarcerated Coloradans to ensure they can stay connected with their family, friends, and loved ones and be set up for success after they serve time and re-enter the community. Visitation includes social visits including in-person visits, family time visits, phone calls, and video calls. The bill extends this right to any incarcerated person who has been restricted privileges, especially for those who have been placed in restrictive housing like solitary confinement or those who choose not to work. Under the bill, an incarcerated person could file a grievance with the Department of Corrections if they are not allowed visitations, and those grievances would be shared with the Colorado legislature. A study found that visitation in prison results in a 26 percent decrease in post-release criminal activity as well as a 28 percent reduction in new convictions overall. Previous Next

< Back November 21, 2019 REP. ALEX VALDEZ ELECTED CHAIR OF LGBTQ CAUCUS Denver, CO— Representative Alex Valdez (D-Denver) today released the following statement after being elected this week to lead the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus: “I am honored to lead the LGBTQ caucus. We made tremendous progress in the last year. We protected our LGBTQ youth by banning the dangerous practice of conversion therapy. We ensured that government identification reflects Coloradans’ true selves. We passed legislation to bring our students a history curriculum that shares the incredible contributions of LGBTQ Americans. We will continue to work hard to make progress on LGBTQ rights and ensure an inclusive Colorado.” The Colorado Legislative LGBTQ Caucus includes members of both chambers and works to expand and protect LGBTQ rights. The caucus includes former Co-Chairs Sen. Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City) and Rep. Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo), Rep. Leslie Herod (D-Denver), Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis (D-Boulder County), Rep. Brianna Titone (D-Arvada) and Sen. Joann Ginal (D-Fort Collins). Last session, the legislature passed and the governor signed a bill sponsored by Reps. Michaelson Jenet and Esgar to ban conversion therapy (HB19-1129). Colorado also passed Jude’s Law (HB19-1039), sponsored by Rep. Esgar and Sen. Moreno, which now allows residents to obtain identification documents that reflect their identities. To further a more inclusive history curriculum, the legislation passed HB19-1192, sponsored by Reps. Serena Gonzales Gutierrez (D-Denver) and Bri Buentello (D-Pueblo), which will ensure more students learn about the contributions of American Indians, Latinos, African Americans and Asian Americans; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. Previous Next

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

The House Health and Human Services Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to support children and youth in the foster care system that have complex behavioral health care needs. The bill passed by a vote of 12-1. < Back February 1, 2024 Rep. Young Bill to Increase Behavioral Health Care Access for Foster Youth Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Health and Human Services Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to support children and youth in the foster care system that have complex behavioral health care needs. The bill passed by a vote of 12-1. “Children and youth with complex behavioral health needs deserve access to quality health care, but our current shortage of treatment beds has placed youth in hospitals and hotels where they aren’t receiving appropriate treatment,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley. “We’re creating a system of care that boosts the availability of residential child care settings who can successfully treat these youth and increases payments to fund more residential treatment centers and beds. By strengthening Colorado’s resources, we can ensure our youth have access to the quality behavioral health care they need, when they need it.” HB24-1038 , also sponsored by Representative Brandi Bradley, R-Roxborough, outlines a new system of care designed for youth and children with complex behavioral health needs who are in foster care, or at risk of out-of-home placement. Specifically, it would require state agencies to create a care plan that includes the implementation of a standardized assessment tool, intensive-care coordination, expanded supportive services and expanded access to treatment in foster care. The bill aims to make it easier for youth with complex behavioral health needs to receive the care they need, when they need it. In order to meet the needs of foster youth, the bill creates a training academy to develop high-quality residential child care providers who will ensure effective, safe, and responsible care. The legislation requires the state to monitor quality standards for residential child care providers at all levels of care. This bill originated from the Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee and was unanimously approved by the committee in October 2023. Previous Next

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