< Back May 29, 2019 GOV SIGNS MULLICA’S BIPARTISAN PACKAGE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE (May 29) – Earlier today, Gov. Polis signed two bills that will improve safety at freestanding emergency room departments and increase health care access in rural schools across the state. “This bipartisan new law is about ensuring the safety of patients and that emergency departments in rural, urban and suburban communities offer the best services available,” said Rep. Mullica, D-Northglenn. HB19-1010 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 new law 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 profession. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Lois Landgraf, R-Fountain. HB19-1010 passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 54-9 earlier this year. Gov. Polis also signed Rep. Mullica’s bill to hire more school nurses in schools across Colorado, especially schools in rural areas and in disadvantaged communities. “As a nurse, I see first hand how untrained school staff are administering medication to students with chronic illnesses. This can be dangerous for the staff and especially for the students,” said Rep. Mullica. “This bill would ensure Colorado’s kids have access to health care professionals in their schools. School nurses provide a range of health care services to our students while also handling medical emergencies during the school day.” HB19-1203 would provide grants to improve the ratio of school nurses to students while also prioritizing nurses in rural areas and lower-income communities. This bill also allows school nurses to partner with local public health agencies so that nurse practitioners can also serve in schools. Currently, there are 632 nurses that serve 910,000 school-aged students. That’s roughly one nurse for every 1,500 to 1,700 students. Previous Next

Legislation puts ‘people over parking’ to lower the cost of building new homes, increase Colorado’s housing supply, and reduce harmful air pollution < Back June 30, 2025 Legislation to Save Coloradans Money on Housing by Eliminating Parking Mandates Takes Effect Legislation puts ‘people over parking’ to lower the cost of building new homes, increase Colorado’s housing supply, and reduce harmful air pollution COLORADO - Legislation goes into effect today to make housing in Colorado more affordable and reduce traffic congestion. HB24-1304, also sponsored by Former Rep. Steph Vigil and Former Senator Kevin Priola, eliminates parking mandates that drive up the cost of building new housing, especially multi-family developments. “Parking minimums add to building costs that then get passed down to potential homebuyers and renters, increasing housing costs for everyone,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “Each parking space can add tens of thousands of dollars and reduce the number of units that we can build—restricting supply and driving up costs. This law going into effect, coupled with the other housing legislation that Colorado Democrats passed in recent years, will help alleviate our affordability crisis.” “Parking spots cost tens of thousands of dollars each to build - an unacceptable amount at a time when too many Coloradans are struggling to find housing they can afford,” Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, said. “We must do more to encourage the construction of new housing in our state, including for Pueblo which has a large amount of land devoted to parking that could be redeveloped as housing and businesses. I am incredibly proud of our new law that will make it easier to do just that while reducing traffic, bolstering economic development, and freeing up valuable space for our communities while enhancing our downtowns.” Beginning June 30, 2025, HB24-1304 prohibits a county or municipality within a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) from enacting or enforcing minimum parking requirements for most new multifamily residential properties that are within a quarter mile of a transit stop or station. The law still allows a local government to impose a parking minimum of up to one space per unit on proposed housing developments with more than 20 units or that include any units classified as affordable housing. To impose this mandate, they must show that the parking minimum is required to avoid a substantial negative impact. HB24-1304 does not allow a county or municipality to decrease required parking spaces for people with disabilities and does not prevent a local government from enacting or enforcing a maximum parking requirement or requiring a number of spaces for temporary loading purposes. Lastly, the law required the Colorado Department of Transportation and other state agencies to publish a map of the applicable transit services area and technical assistance materials and best practices for optimal parking supply and management policies by the end of 2024. Parking minimums increase home prices and rents by requiring developers to use valuable space for cars that may not be fully utilized and could instead be dedicated to more housing units. In 2020, new structured parking spaces in Denver cost $25,000 each. The city of Minneapolis, which eliminated parking minimums in 2021 and has enacted a suite of other land use reforms, saw rents increase by just one percent between 2017 and 2022, while rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Denver increased by almost 25 percent over the same time period. Research attributes the significant expansion of the housing supply in Minneapolis, leading to lower rent increases, to the elimination of parking minimums. The oversupply of parking is also directly linked to higher vehicle miles traveled. The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution in Colorado, with passenger vehicles such as cars and light-duty trucks contributing nearly 60 percent of the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. Previous Next

Democrats passed legislation to make life in Colorado more affordable, improve public safety and protect the Colorado way of life in the face of threats from the Trump Administration and significant budget constraints. Colorado Democrats worked to make Colorado more affordable, protect core services like K-12 education and Medicaid coverage, and address some of the thorniest issues facing the state in a challenging environment marked by global instability, rising political violence, a generational drought, unlawful federal overreach and a billion dollar budget crisis. DOWNLOAD ONE PAGERS PARA ESPAÑOL, PRIMA AQUÍ DOWNLOAD REPORT

< Back March 15, 2019 REP. COLEMAN: COLORADO CAN’T AFFORD TO RANK AT BOTTOM FOR FAFSA COMPLETION Coleman’s bill would help Colorado students receive federal aid for a postsecondary degree (Mar. 14) – The House Education committee passed Rep. James Coleman’s bill to help increase federal financial aid application completion rates. Colorado students missed out on as much as $50 million in financial aid last year due to students failing to complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms. “We are letting our hard earned tax payer dollars go to other states because our students are not filling out their FAFSA forms,” said Rep. Coleman, D-Denver. “This bill will help Colorado get a huge return on our investment in our students, ensure more students have the tools they need to succeed and make our higher-ed institutions stronger.” Completing a FAFSA form increases the odds that Colorado’s high school students – particularly low income students and students of color – will attain a postsecondary degree, increasing their future earnings and success. Studies show that 90 percent of high school seniors who complete FAFSA attend college directly after high school. Boosting Colorado’s FAFSA completion rate will boost our state’s college and postsecondary institution enrollment rate. If passed, the program would begin in 2019. HB19-1187 was approved by the House Education committee unanimously and now goes to the House Appropriations committee. The state board of education will distribute funding to education providers that receive a grant under the School Counselor Corps Grant Program, for the purpose of educating and supporting students and families with the completion and submission of the free application for federal student aid or applications for state student aid. Previous Next

The House today advanced a bill on a preliminary vote to raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm in Colorado to 21 years old. < Back March 26, 2023 House Advances Bill to Raise Minimum Purchase Age of Firearms DENVER, CO - The House today advanced a bill on a preliminary vote to raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm in Colorado to 21 years old. “As someone who has lived under the threat of gun violence, I want to do everything I can to prevent other people from experiencing the trauma that I’ve had to endure,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge . “By raising the legal age to purchase a firearm to 21, we can save the lives of our children, friends and neighbors from preventable firearm-related injuries or death. This is a crucial step to reduce suicide rates that are far too high and prevent gun violence in our communities.” “As a teacher of over 30 years, I’ve experienced countless lockdowns and wondered how I could protect every single one of my students from an active shooter on my own,” said Rep. Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial . “Developing brains are not fully ready to evaluate risks, regulate emotion or implement self-control, which means youth access to firearms is more likely to lead to violence. Our students, educators and school personnel deserve to be safe. While no single piece of legislation will end gun violence, this bill will make our schools and communities safer for us all.” Currently, individuals must be 21 years old to purchase a handgun, but only 18 years old to purchase long guns. SB23-169 would raise the age limit to purchase any firearm to 21. The bill includes exceptions for 18-21 year olds to purchase a firearm who are on-duty peace officers or active military members. According to Everytown for Gun Safety , firearms are the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. ages 18 to 20, and the firearm suicide rate among this group has increased a staggering 61 percent in the last decade. Previous Next

The Governor today signed into law legislation that will better balance the authority between the Governor and the General Assembly during times of economic uncertainty. < Back August 28, 2025 Bill to Increase Oversight & Collaboration Between Executive & Legislative Branches During Revenue Shortfalls Signed Into Law DENVER, CO – The Governor today signed into law legislation that will better balance the authority between the Governor and the General Assembly during times of economic uncertainty. Previously, the Governor had broad unilateral authority to suspend programs and services during a revenue shortfall via executive order. SB25B-001 now requires the Governor to notify the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) of executive orders to reduce spending and requires the JBC to promptly meet with the executive branch to discuss the plan. Earlier today, JBC met to hear from Governor Polis and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting on his executive order to suspend certain spending during the current fiscal year. “Strong collaboration between the executive and legislative branches helps to create a more efficient government,” said Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver. “This new law improves collaboration during times when it is arguably most important, times when the state faces revenue shortfalls that require spending reductions. This is a step in the right direction to ensuring the General Assembly has a stronger voice in these critical decision-making processes.” “When Congressional Republicans passed Trump’s tax bill last month, it immediately blew a billion-dollar hole in this year’s state budget, putting us in a position to make difficult spending cuts,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “The law signed today strengthens collaboration by bringing the Joint Budget Committee to the table, when previously the Governor had sole power to make cuts to programs and services during a revenue shortfall. With this law, we can encourage a more balanced approach to fill the revenue hole that was caused by the reckless federal GOP budget.” “In times of economic uncertainty, the executive and legislative branches must work together to do what’s best for the people of Colorado,” said Senator Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “The Joint Budget Committee works year round to ensure that we’re budgeting responsibly, and it is only right that we have a seat at the table when the Governor is making spending reductions. This legislation is critical to ensuring that collaboration and updating spending reduction triggers to better reflect the current size of our reserves, which Democrats have worked hard to build up since the COVID pandemic.” “Because of Trump’s corporate giveaways, we are forced to make cuts to our budget. This legislation will help us make well-informed, data-driven decisions to minimize the harm caused by Congressional Republicans,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Creating a responsible and thoughtful process to reduce state spending is a much better approach than the legislature rebalancing the budget on the fly, without any analysis from our nonpartisan staff, data or input from the Joint Budget Committee. We’re balancing the Governor’s authority, improving transparency and updating spending reduction triggers to better serve the people of Colorado.” The bill balances the authority between the Governor and the General Assembly by ensuring the JBC is involved in decision-making processes early on and by adding guardrails to the executive branch’s existing authority to help ensure that they continue to meet and implement legislative directives. The bill also updates the triggers requiring spending reductions to more accurately reflect economic pressures and the current status of the reserve, which Democrats have worked to build up to 15 percent since the COVID pandemic when it fell below four percent. In addition to the triggers in existing law, the bill adds that if a revenue estimate indicates that the state is on track to use an amount of the reserve equal to three percent of the general fund appropriations for that fiscal year (e.g. around $490 million for FY26), the Governor must take action to reduce spending. Previous Next

< Back February 13, 2023 Bill Closes Corporate Tax Loophole to Boost Food Assistance and Small Businesses DENVER, CO - The House Finance Committee today passed legislation to close tax loopholes that allow wealthy corporations to deduct business meal and drink expenses from their taxable income in order to expand access to healthy foods in lower-income and under-served communities and help small food retailers and small family farms. It passed by a vote of 7-4. “Everyday Coloradans don’t get a tax break on their lunches, and neither should wealthy corporations,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D- Aurora. “Hard-working Coloradans are pinching pennies to feed their families while CEOs get a tax break on their ‘three martini’ lunches. One in three adults living with children have reported skipping meals or eating smaller portions so their kids have enough food to eat. This bill would close this tax loophole and use the savings to provide food assistance to under-served communities and support our local farmers and food producers.” Currently, Colorado taxpayers collectively cover the cost of the “business meals deduction” because state tax deductions are linked to federal tax deductions. HB23-1008 would “decouple” from these federal income tax deductions, ending the resulting state tax loophole that allows wealthy corporations to deduct business meal expenses from their taxes. Ending these tax deductions would create revenue to reduce food insecurity for hard-working Coloradans and fund a tax credit to help our local farmers and food retailers access necessary equipment and better access market opportunities. This bill builds off bipartisan legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2022 to save Coloradans money on healthy foods. It allocates $1 million annually to the Healthy Food Incentive Fund, which provides healthy eating incentives for low-income Coloradans and makes it easier for these communities to access fresh, local fruits and vegetables. The fund created by the 2022 legislation supports programs including the Community Nutrition Incentive Program, which assists women, children, and older Coloradans in subscribing to weekly produce deliveries from a local farm; the Double Up Food Bucks Program, which doubles the value of SNAP benefits in participating markets and stores for fruits and vegetables; and the Community Food Access program, which allows more small retailers to acquire equipment to store and sell produce and supports small family farms in connecting their crops to market demand. HB23-1008 also creates an income tax credit for small food retailers and small family farms to cover 75% of the cost of new systems and equipment. Partnering with Colorado farms and food producers boosts revenue and cycles money into local economies. The Double Up Food Bucks Program provides a 2.5% economic multiplier, putting more money into the pockets of Colorado farmers and the local agricultural industry and expanding access to healthy foods. Increased subscriptions means that local farmers can afford to expand their operations, grow varied produce, and improve farming equipment. Previous Next

< Back August 9, 2024 McCluskie Attends Ribbon Cutting for New Workforce Housing in Buena Vista BUENA VISTA, CO – Speaker Julie McCluskie today joined Governor Jared Polis and local leaders at a ribbon cutting ceremony for new workforce housing units in Buena Vista that will support Department of Corrections Employees. “I’m excited to see these new housing options come online for Department of Corrections employees in Buena Vista,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie. “Too many corrections officers and DOC employees have struggled to find a place to live where they can afford, and many have been commuting long distances. This will go a long way toward recruiting and retaining our crucial DOC workforce in Buena Vista and ensuring a higher quality of life for those that live and work here. I want to especially thank Colorado WINS for their work advocating for state employees.” Previous Next

< Back May 23, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! COLORADO CASHBACK PLAN TO PROVIDE EXPEDITED TAX RELIEF SB22-233 will provide relief to more than 3 million Coloradans DENVER, CO – Governor Polis today signed legislation to expedite Coloradans’ tax refunds and provide relief as soon as possible. Under the Colorado Cashback plan, individual tax filers will receive early refund checks in September, currently estimated at $500 for individuals and $1,000 for joint filers, or even more. Final refund amounts will be determined based on updated revenue statistics. SB22-233 , sponsored by Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, Senator Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver, Representative Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs, and Representative Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada, speeds up the timeline for refund checks to help families afford basic necessities like gas and groceries. All full-time residents of Colorado who file their 2021 income tax returns by June 30th, 2022, or who received a tax filing extension and file their return by the extension date, will receive a check by September 30th. “Coloradans are feeling the pain of inflation because of the pandemic, and they need our help,” Hinrichsen said. “That’s why we’re taking action to provide immediate support to families and individuals in the form of direct relief to taxpayers. This relief will put money back into Coloradans’ wallets as soon as possible, making it easier for folks to afford everyday necessities like rent and groceries and helping families make ends meet during this challenging time.” “Our state’s economic recovery will mean we send even more money back to taxpayers in September to help them afford the rising cost of living and pay for necessities,” said Exum, Sr. “In September, Coloradans will receive their early tax refund check, putting more money back into people’s pockets when they need it the most.” “We worked hard this session to save Colorado families money, and this legislation will do even more to ease the pain we’re all feeling due to rising inflation,” Rodriguez said. “As we continue building back from the pandemic, this relief will help ease the financial burden folks across our state are struggling with when they need it most.” “From reducing property taxes to free universal preschool, we’ve worked hard this session to put more money back in people’s pockets and this law will expedite tax refunds to provide urgent relief,” said Daugherty. “Coloradans are struggling and this new law delivers relief in a meaningful way when people need it the most.” Colorado Democrats’ state stimulus plan, fair tax reform, and responsible governance combined has led to a robust economic recovery and a record state surplus that is being returned to taxpayers via this tax rebate, in addition to existing refund mechanisms, including the senior homestead exemption and a temporary reduction in the state income tax rate. The expedited tax relief provided by SB22-233 will add to the savings from the comprehensive tax reform legislation and property tax relief passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Polis last year that is already putting money back into Coloradans’ pockets. By repealing tax loopholes for large corporations and millionaires and reducing property tax assessment rates, Democrats have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in economic assistance and tax relief for hard working Coloradans, seniors, and small businesses. Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Cathy Kipp to increase special education funding. SB23-099 passed by a vote of 57-6. < Back April 21, 2023 Boost to Special Education Funding Passes House DENVER, CO - The House today passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative Cathy Kipp to increase special education funding. SB23-099 passed by a vote of 57-6. “Increasing special education funding is critical to help schools cover the costs of providing learning support, speech therapy, and other services to our students that need additional help to succeed in school,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “This legislation improves special education funding so that our schools aren’t burdened with fronting the cost of special education services on their own, creating a better learning environment for all students.” SB23-099 , also sponsored by Rep. Lisa Frizell, increases funding by over $40 million for special education services for public schools, including charter schools, to better support students’ needs. Increased per pupil funding from this bill will help lower student-teacher ratios, reduce class sizes and help provide more tailored and individualized assistance to students. Per pupil special education funding includes funding for students with at least one disability who need significant support in school. This bill increases per pupil special education funding up to $6,000 per student to improve education services to learners within special education. Previous Next

< Back May 7, 2021 HOUSE DEMS ADVANCE COLORADO OPTION Bill will save consumers 18 percent on health care and create a new insurance option DENVER, CO– The House today advanced the Colorado Health Insurance Option on a preliminary vote. The bill would significantly lower health insurance premiums on the individual and small group markets and create a new option for consumers to save Coloradans money and increase access to health care. “Lower health insurance premiums and new options are on the way. No one should avoid going to a doctor or hospital just because they can’t afford the health care they need,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “I’m proud that we brought everyone in the health care industry to the table to deliver big savings for Coloradans. The Colorado Option is going to save people 18 percent on their health insurance premiums and create an affordable choice for individuals, families, and small businesses. This is an exciting moment for Coloradans across our state.” “I came to the legislature to work hard to give my constituents a shot at achieving the American dream,” said Representative Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora . “But far too many Black, Brown, and low-income families in my district and across Colorado are being held back by the crippling costs of health care. Today we took a monumental step toward giving Coloradans a quality, affordable health care option that increases equity and ensures that families can get the care they need.” Before the pandemic, 20 percent of Coloradans struggled to afford the cost of health care or went without care because they couldn’t afford it. One in six Colorado counties has only one health insurance carrier on the individual market. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in the state’s health system and exacerbated existing inequities that have only made it harder for Coloradans to access affordable care. HB21-1232 will bring more affordable health insurance options to Coloradans in the individual and small group market. This proposal provides the health care industry an opportunity to work collaboratively to reduce their premiums, and allows them to innovate and figure out how to do that. Health insurance carriers would be required to bring premiums down by 18 percent over three years. The bill requires health insurance carriers to offer a standardized health plan, meaning Colorado consumers will have a new insurance option that covers the services they need at a lower cost. The standardized plan must address historical health inequities, and it will lower out-of-pocket costs for consumers. The plan would be offered in both the small group and individual markets, increasing access and affordability for small businesses who choose to offer a health benefit. The proposal ensures industry participation and accountability by creating Colorado’s first Insurance Consumer Ombudsman and public hearing process to ensure affordability and access targets are met. Previous Next

The House Finance Committee yesterday passed legislation to save Coloradans money on their energy bills and improve pricing stability to prevent unpredictable rate spikes in the future. < Back May 2, 2023 House Committee Passes Bill to Save Coloradans Money on Energy Bills, Improve Transparency DENVER, CO – The House Finance Committee yesterday passed legislation to save Coloradans money on their energy bills and improve pricing stability to prevent unpredictable rate spikes in the future. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Chris deGruy Kennedy and Matthew Martinez, would increase transparency and accountability of utility companies before the Public Utilities Commission. “After convening with policy experts, consumer advocates, and utility companies to uncover what is leading to rising utility rates, we’re moving a solution forward that will save families money on their utility bills,” said Joint Select Committee Vice Chair Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “This bill works to create a fairer utility rate setting process so Colordans are not stuck with unexpected, high utility bills. Ratepayers’ interests should be prioritized, and this legislation would improve utility accountability and transparency to keep Coloradans’ concerns and wallets top of mind.” “The Joint Select Committee has been hard at work identifying real solutions to tackle high utility bills that have been impacting hardworking families all winter,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “Our legislation will create a pathway toward long-term, cost-saving solutions that will increase rate transparency and save Coloradans money. This legislation also works to protect ratepayers from having to cover the costs of lobbying, advertising and other expenses that utilities pass on to consumers.” SB23-291 , which passed the House Finance Committee by a vote of 6 to 4, presents a package of reforms to lower utility bills now and in the future. It rebalances the kind of expenses paid by utility shareholders versus ratepayers, aligns incentives on fuel costs, and levels the playing field at Public Utilities Commission (PUC) proceedings, where costly infrastructure plans are proposed and approved. The bill would limit utility expenses that can be paid by ratepayers, such as lobbying and advertising, which would be more appropriately paid by company shareholders. It would also create a cost-sharing mechanism to incentivize utilities to save their customers money on fuel costs, and allow the PUC to set a maximum monthly fuel cost to smooth out monthly bills and avoid sudden price shocks. Additionally, the bill would require utilities to report more detailed justification for their plans when they request a rate increase, which will help regulators and watchdogs make sure proposed investments are truly in the public interest. In addition, the bill empowers the PUC to reduce utilities’ ability to charge consumers for expensive consultants and lawyers that argue on behalf of rate increases. Previous Next