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The House today passed legislation that would implement voter-approved Proposition 130 and direct significant new resources to public safety and law enforcement training, recruitment and retention. SB25-310, sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird, passed by a vote of 55-9. < Back May 5, 2025 House Passes Bill to Improve Law Enforcement Training DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation that would implement voter-approved Proposition 130 and direct significant new resources to public safety and law enforcement training, recruitment and retention. SB25-310, sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird, passed by a vote of 55-9. "This legislation honors voter intent when they passed Prop 130 by investing these new resources in public safety,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Last year, Colorado voters approved Prop 130 to better support the recruitment and training of peace officers and ensure that families of first responders can receive death benefits after a tragedy. This solution implements the will of the voters and supports our law enforcement departments and officers while maintaining funding for essential services like K-12 education and health care." SB25-310 , also sponsored by Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, would implement the voter-approved Proposition 130 and direct a total of $350 million to keep Coloradans safe and to recruit new peace officers, hire additional peace officers, and provide continuing education and training for peace officers. The bill would implement and create a funding mechanism for the distribution of $350 million for local law enforcement officer recruitment, retention and training. The bill would make a one-time investment of $500 million of the general fund reserve in PERA and reduce future general fund payments to PERA by the amount of interest earned. It would then divert that amount to the new Peace Officer Training and Support fund each year, which will be distributed to local police departments. In addition, the bill would require a transfer of $15 million to the fund from the General Fund in 2026-27, and a minimum of $15 million from the general fund each year regardless of the amount offset by interest earnings. Once the full $350 million is fulfilled or if the general fund reserve falls below $1 billion, the bill would establish mechanisms to effectively return the $500 million invested in PERA to the general fund. The bill would also implement the death benefit required in Proposition 130 of $1 million to the surviving spouse, family member, or designee of any first responder who died as a result of injuries or an occupational disease sustained while performing their job, and create the Death Benefit Fund. The bill would transfer $5 million on July 1, 2025, and a further $5 million on July 1, 2026, to the Death Benefit Fund. Beginning in 2027, the bill would require an annual transfer from the General Fund to the Death Benefit Fund that restores the fund balance to $10 million. Previous Next

< Back January 29, 2020 REP. JACKSON’S FAIRNESS IN EVICTION COURT RECORDS BILL PASSES HOUSE Legislation would protect renters rights and ensure fairness in the renting process DENVER, CO — Legislation sponsored by Representative Dominique Jackson to protect renters from being discriminated against for vacated evictions today was approved by the House of Representatives on third reading and sent to the Senate for Consideration. “Today the House moved us one step closer to guaranteeing that people who have an eviction filed against them, but who haven’t actually been evicted, can access the housing they need,” said Rep. Jackson (D-Aurora). “Affordable and accessible housing has long been a top priority of mine, and I’m pleased to see so many of my colleagues join me today in standing up for renters rights.” Currently, when an eviction is filed against a tenant it produces an official court record, regardless of whether the filing was dismissed for being unfounded or retaliatory in nature. This can result in a scarlet letter on one’s rental history and often prevents Coloradans and their families from accessing housing in the future. HB20-1009 would create an automatic suppression of court records while eviction proceedings are ongoing so that they do not become public until after the final court order is entered. It would also remove these court records from public view if an eviction filing is dismissed. Doing so will ensure that Coloradans and their families can access safe, affordable housing. Previous Next

On August 6, two laws to strengthen protections for victims of domestic violence go into effect. HB25-1168 improves housing security, expands access to justice, and keeps Coloradans safe. SB25-116 ensures that courts consider domestic violence and abuse history during divorce and spousal support proceedings. < Back July 29, 2025 Laws Take Effect to Strengthen Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence DENVER, CO - On August 6, two laws to strengthen protections for victims of domestic violence go into effect. HB25-1168 improves housing security, expands access to justice, and keeps Coloradans safe. SB25-116 ensures that courts consider domestic violence and abuse history during divorce and spousal support proceedings. “Housing instability is one of the biggest threats to people who experience gender-based violence, with 20 percent of people experiencing homelessness in the Denver Metro Area fleeing domestic violence,” said Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, sponsor of HB25-1168. “Many victims can’t safely leave their abuser, which is why our new law strengthens Colorado’s victim protection laws and establishes new mechanisms to improve a victim’s access to justice and safe housing. Gender-based violence is traumatic, and no one deserves to face long-lasting financial consequences or homelessness as a result.” "Too often, survivors of domestic violence are forced to choose between their safety and their housing," said Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, sponsor of HB25-1168. "No one should be stuck in a dangerous situation because they can’t afford to break a lease or are left with damages they didn’t cause. This law gives survivors the legal protections they need to reclaim their safety and move forward with dignity." “The Violence Against Women Act is near and dear to my heart, and I’m proud to sponsor this law to better align Colorado law with these protections to keep survivors safe,” said Rep. Cecelia Espenoza, D-Denver, sponsor of HB25-1168. “As a judge, I know how important it is to have strong protections in statute, and this law is a meaningful change that better allows survivors to end their leases early while providing a payment plan to protect landlords and keep survivors housed. This is a huge win for survivors of gender-based violence to ensure they have the tools they need to build a strong, safe future away from their abuser.” "Survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and stalking often face a lose/lose situation when it comes to their housing," said Sen. Mike Weissman, sponsor of HB25-1168. "It can be expensive to try to stay in one's home or expensive to relocate, on top of the immense personal cost of victimization. Whatever difficult choice they make, this important new law will help survivors by offering payment plans for back rent or limiting the costs of relocating such as losing a security deposit. Either way, survivors have a better path to safety, stability, and a chance at a fresh start." Currently, a tenant cannot be found guilty of unlawfully residing in a property if the tenant is experiencing domestic violence or domestic abuse and they provide a police report or civil or emergency protection order proving they were a victim. HB25-1168 expands these victim protections to include victims of unlawful sexual behavior and stalking and allows self-attestation or a letter signed by a qualified third party to be used as proof, reducing hurdles to accessing critical protections. Additional victim protection expansions include: Allowing victims who terminate a lease not to be held liable for property damage caused by their abuser during incidents of unlawful sexual behavior, stalking, domestic violence, or domestic abuse, Ensuring victims can change locks to their rental property on their own if the victim provides documentation to prove they are a victim-survivor, Prohibiting a landlord from assigning debt allegedly owed by a tenant who is a victim-survivor to a third-party debt collector, with exemptions, and Requiring tenants to pay no more than one month’s rent after they vacate the residence and terminate the lease if, within 30 days, the landlord provides proof of economic damages as a result of the early lease termination. To strengthen eviction protections, this law also requires landlords to offer a repayment plan to victim-survivors for late or unpaid rent before a court may issue an eviction order. The repayment plan cannot exceed nine months from the date the plan was established. A 2023 report from the Colorado Coalition of the Homeless found that 1,265 Coloradans experiencing homelessness also reported being a victim of domestic violence. SB25-116 , also sponsored by Senator Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, and Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, ensures that proceedings involving spousal support consider a spouse’s history of domestic violence. It also broadens disclosure requirements related to restraining and protection orders. “Survivors who make the courageous decision to leave their abusive spouse often face complex legal systems and serious financial burdens,” said Sen. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, sponsor of SB25-116. “No survivor should be forced to pay spousal support to the person who harmed them. This law brings much-needed clarity and ensures that courts have the full context to make fair and just decisions..” “As a survivor, I am proud that this legislation is now in effect to ensure that courts can make an informed decision and better support survivors who are leaving their abusers,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, sponsor of SB25-116. “Leaving an abusive partner is one of the most dangerous things a survivor of domestic violence can do, and it is important that the justice system can access the reported history of abuse during divorce and separation proceedings. By increasing the disclosure window and including a variety of abusive actions that must be considered during a case involving spousal support, we can lift up survivors and their stories during the scariest time of their lives.” Under current law, courts consider a list of relevant factors when determining spousal support. This new law expands that list to include whether a spouse has engaged in domestic violence, coercive control, economic abuse, litigation abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, or unlawful sexual behavior against the other spouse. The law also extends the disclosure window for prior restraining or protection orders from two years to five, ensuring judges have access to a more complete history of abuse during divorce or separation proceedings. Previous Next

< Back May 8, 2023 Daugherty Bill to Lower Health Care Costs Passes House DENVER, CO - The House today passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Lindsey Daugherty to increase price transparency for health care services to save Colorado patients money. “A report released last month found that roughly half of hospitals across the state do not comply with a federal hospital transparency law that provides patients with expected prices for the medical care they are seeking,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “This transparency law allows patients to budget for inpatient, outpatient, surgery, and prescription drug costs so they can receive the care they need without being blindsided by an unmanageable hospital bill. We’re building the federal transparency requirement into Colorado law and that will save patients money on health care.” SB23-252 , also sponsored by Representative Anthony Hartsook, passed the House by a vote of 61-3. In 2022, the General Assembly passed legislation to prohibit hospitals from pursuing debt collection action against a patient if the hospital failed to comply with federal hospital price transparency laws during the patient’s treatment. Under the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule, hospitals must publicly post standard charges and provide an out-of-pocket cost estimator tool for patients. This bill would build on the federal transparency requirements by having hospitals post their Medicare reimbursement rates and requiring the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to conduct performance assessments on Colorado hospitals to check for compliance. Violations of SB23-252 would be a deceptive trade practice under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act . ### Previous Next

HB25-1320 will drive $256 million more to Colorado’s K-12 public schools for the 2025-26 school year < Back April 16, 2025 2025 School Finance Act Moves Forward DENVER, CO – The House today passed the 2025 School Finance Act on a preliminary vote. This bill will implement the new school funding formula and sustainably drive more funding to Colorado’s K-12 public schools. “The 2025 School Finance Act delivers for our students and teachers by boosting funding by $256 million and turning on the new school finance formula that will drive more resources to the students who need them the most,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “Despite nearly universal declining enrollment, the 2025 School Finance Act ensures that no district drops below the funding amount they received this school year. We’re deeply committed to investing in our K-12 public schools, and this year’s School Finance Act supports rural schools and our most vulnerable students while creating a sustainable pathway to significantly increase school funding.” “As a teacher, I know how important adequate funding is to create an environment where students can succeed,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs . “The 2025 School Finance Act will invest $256 million more in our public schools this year, meaning funding will rise by over $410 per student on average. The bill implements the new school funding formula to better support every student in our public schools. This bill drives funding to our K-12 schools equitably and sustainably, so our students can maximize their learning potential.” Colorado lawmakers have worked diligently to drive record-breaking funding to Colorado’s K-12 public schools. Since 2019, when voters gave Democrats the trifecta, total funding for schools has increased by over $3 billion, while Colorado schools have lost tens of thousands of students in that time, even after accounting for increased student counts from full-day kindergarten. Since the 2018-2019 school year, average per-pupil funding has increased from $8,123 to $11,852 next year. The 2025 School Finance Act ( HB25-1320 ) would drive $256.7 million more to Colorado’s public schools than last school year, bringing the 2025-26 school funding total to a record $10.035 billion despite Colorado facing a declining student enrollment environment. HB25-1320 acknowledges unique challenges for rural and remote districts, increases education funding to keep up with inflation and prioritizes sustainable funding for years to come. In last year’s School Finance Act , lawmakers delivered on their promise to pay off the Budget Stabilization Factor. At the same time, HB24-1448 modernized the school funding formula used to determine the total program funding for Colorado’s K-12 public school districts for the first time in 30 years. This legislation created a more student-centered formula designed to drive more resources to rural and underserved districts, as well as students living with a disability, at-risk students and English Language Learners (ELLs). For the 2025-2026 school year, HB25-1320 will: Provide $83.2 million more for public schools next year than the old school finance formula. Increase average per-pupil funding by $412, bringing the total per-pupil funding to $11,863. Ensure that 157 of 178 districts will see an average 2.9 percent increase in funding, while the remaining 21 districts with significantly declining enrollment are held harmless. HB25-1320 will implement the new school funding formula at 15 percent per year for six years, and then 10 percent for the final seventh year of implementation, while still maintaining the four-year averaging model for the 2025-26 school year. To help stabilize school funding in a declining enrollment environment, the bill includes a three-year averaging model in 2026-27 if the new funding formula is implemented at 30 percent, otherwise it will remain at four-years. Given the tight budget conditions, largely driven by increased Medicaid costs, Colorado lawmakers have had to address a $1.2 billion shortfall in the state budget. However, HB25-1320 is designed to give the legislature the flexibility to continue increasing school funding while adapting to changing budget realities. To maintain the financial health of the State Education Fund (SEF), HB25-1320 provides the flexibility to adjust the percentage of the formula implemented each year or the averaging components of the formula to ensure a healthy reserve in the fund’s balance. Previous Next

Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee today released the following statements after the Legislative Council Staff and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting delivered the March quarterly economic forecasts: < Back March 15, 2024 JOINT RELEASE: Forecast Shows Strong Economy, Constrained State Budget DENVER, CO – Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee today released the following statements after the Legislative Council Staff and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting delivered the March quarterly economic forecasts: “Colorado’s growth is an indicator of a strong economy, yet we are cautiously optimistic as we place the final touches on the budget,” said JBC Chair Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “I’m excited that we are in a position to fulfill our promise to students and educators by eliminating the budget stabilization factor. This will put more money into Colorado classrooms further increasing teacher pay, reducing class sizes, and ensuring students have the resources they need to succeed. We will soon finalize a fiscally responsible and balanced budget that represents our values, sustains our economic growth, uplifts families and invests in critical services.” “The March economic forecast represents the final set of data before we finalize this year’s budget,” JBC Vice Chair Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, said. “Today’s cautiously optimistic outlook reaffirms our budget work thus far: to be bold in supporting critical services by fully funding schools and health care provider rates, but to be responsible and constrain spending so we remain well-prepared for the future. I’m pleased that despite a challenging fiscal landscape, we’re well-positioned to fulfill our obligations to schools and families, close gaps in workforce shortages, and fund critical behavioral and mental health services – all without overextending state resources.” “This economic forecast shows steady economic growth and lays the foundation for us as we craft a budget that invests in Colorado’s families and workers," said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Even with our strong economy, Colorado’s unique fiscal constraints make it challenging to fund new investments. Our goal this year is to prioritize funding for our public schools and early childhood education, working families and the critical community-based services Coloradans rely upon to keep us safe, protect our health, and thrive.” “Today’s economic forecast tells two stories,” Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, said. “The first story is that Colorado’s economy is strong. Unemployment rates remain low while the number of jobs and income levels are growing. However, the second story tells us that because of TABOR, our state resources remain tight and we must be cautious with this year’s fiscal commitments. I look forward to integrating today’s forecast into the final days of budget drafting to ensure we deliver for hardworking Coloradans and set our state up for success.” Colorado’s economy continues to grow, with an unemployment rate of 3.4 percent and total employment growth clocking in at aroun d 2.5 percent in 2023, adding, in aggregate, 57,600 jobs over the past year. Year-over-year wage gains of 6.2 percent outpaced the average rate of inflation which grew by 3.9 percent. The Legislative Council Staff (LCS) forecast anticipates General Fund revenues to be $17.6 billion in FY 2023-2024 and $18.7 billion in FY 2024-2025, a 5.9 percent increase year-over-year. For FY 2024-25, the TABOR surplus is expected to be $1.91 billion; however, budget limitations will continue to constrain investments in state services. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) revised its General Fund revenue expectations up relative to the December forecast to $17.9 billion in FY 2023-24, while FY 2024-25 revenue was revised down to $18.1 billion. OSPB anticipates General Fund revenue will grow 5.8 percent to $19.1 billion in FY 2025-26, due to stable income and sales revenue growth. The March forecast projects that the economy will realize a soft landing, with no recession anticipated in 2024, and Colorado is expected to modestly outperform the U.S. economy. However, the economy is still susceptible to a downturn if confronted with major shocks. Stronger than expected wage gains could boost sales and income tax collections above the amounts projected in this forecast, which anticipates a continued, slowing economic expansion. Some risk factors that could improve the forecast include a faster resolution to inflationary pressures and more accommodative monetary policy. Some risk factors that could negatively impact the forecast include potential tightening of household finances that could hurt consumption and high borrowing costs that could discourage investment. Previous Next

< Back April 25, 2022 BILL TO BOOST COLORADO’S EMERGENCY STOCKPILE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House passed a bill today that would require the State of Colorado to maintain a stockpile of essential materials, including personal protective equipment (PPE). HB22-1352 passed by a vote of 42 to 21 and aims to create a healthier, safer Colorado. “We are preparing now so Colorado has the proper supplies and personal protective equipment needed to keep us safe during the next national emergency or pandemic,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Federal Heights. “Boosting Colorado’s stockpile of masks, gloves and other medical grade PPE will ensure our health care professionals have the tools they need to safely care for Coloradans. We are focused on creating a healthier, more prepared state and this bill invests nearly $2 million to stockpile PPE.” HB22-1352 , sponsored by Representative Mullica, would require the State of Colorado to maintain a stockpile of essential materials and PPE to be available for distribution after the governor has declared a disaster emergency. Facial masks, medical gloves, eye protection and other PPE worn by health care professionals are necessary for treating patients and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. This bill will invest nearly $2 million to stockpile medical-grade PPE in Colorado so hospitals, vaccine clinics and other medical sites can have access to the protective equipment to keep them safe. Schools, community centers and other organizations can also receive stockpiled PPE which will be distributed via state agencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) was charged with maintaining the state’s emergency stockpile of PPE and associated warehouses. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has since maintained a 60-day stockpile of five key PPE product categories to dispatch to state agencies as needed. This bill ensures Colorado has adequate PPE supplies for the next pandemic or declared national disaster. Previous Next

< Back June 8, 2021 HOUSE PASSES EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH, WATERSHED RESTORATION FUNDING DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to make emergency investments to improve access to behavioral health care and address damage to Colorado watersheds from wildfires. “Colorado is facing a mental health crisis, and right now, too many people in our state can’t get the care they need,” said Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “We’re deploying $100 million in federal funds to shore up our behavioral health system and help Colorado youth access critical mental health care. Colorado is going to build back stronger by doing everything we can to significantly expand access to these services for all Coloradans.” “Access to behavioral health care saves lives,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Colorado has seen a 59 percent increase in fatal drug overdoses, as our communities see an alarming rise in the number of Coloradans with a mental health condition. Today, we passed legislation to direct $100 million to boost Colorado’s mental health capacity, so more people in our state can access substance abuse treatment, mental health services and the health care they need to get through the pandemic and bounce back stronger.” SB21-137 , sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Chis Kennedy, was amended to deploy over $100 million in federal stimulus funds immediately for emergency behavioral health services. The pandemic and its accompanying economic recession has taken a toll on the mental health of Coloradans, with mental health challenges and substance use disorders taking a particularly high toll on people of color and people who live and work in frontier and rural communities. In 2020, fatal drug overdoses increased by 59 percent in Colorado. The bill passed 42-23. As amended and to help address Colorado’s youth mental health crisis, the bill requires CDHS to develop a program to provide emergency resources to licensed providers who face barriers in providing treatment and services to youth whose behavioral health needs require them to be in a residential facility. The department is to contract with and reimburse licensed providers to deliver these services. The General Assembly appropriated $5 million to fund this program. Among its many provisions, the bill provides: recovery-oriented services to individuals with a SUD or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorder, support for training programs for providers in rural and metro areas to develop competencies in mental health and substance abuse and grants to nonprofits to provide vouchers to individuals living in rural and frontier communities in need of behavioral health-care services. The amendments also create a Behavioral and Mental Health Cash Fund and a robust interim process to allocate federal stimulus funds for behavioral health. The Colorado Comeback Roadmap to Building Back Stronger envisions spending over half a billion on behavioral health services. “As climate change causes more devastating wildfires in Colorado, we are seeing significant damage to our watersheds, threatening not only our drinking water, but also the water Colorado ranches, farms, residents, and our outdoor recreation industry needs to prosper,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins. “Half the state is already in a severe drought. We must act now to preserve the resources that make our state a desirable place to live. This bill invests $30 million to restore watersheds after devastating wildfires and sustain our precious water resources for all Colorado communities and industries.” Sponsored by Representatives Cathy Kipp and Marc Catlin, SB21-240 , transfers $30 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for the Watershed Restoration and Flood Mitigation Grant Program to help watersheds recover from the impacts of wildfire. The bill also sets aside funds to conduct a statewide watershed analysis that investigates the susceptibility of life, safety, infrastructure, and water supplies to wildfire impacts. The bill passed 60-5. Previous Next

< Back March 22, 2021 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO HELP VICTIMS OF STRANGULATION Bill will open Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Act to victims of strangulation DENVER, CO– The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Monica Duran and Terri Carver to open the Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Act to victims of strangulation. The vote was 64-0. “The cost of forensic medical examinations is often a barrier for victims of strangulation, and can prevent them from helping law enforcement investigate the crime,” said Rep. Monica Duran, D- Wheat Ridge. “This bill takes an important step forward to advance justice. With this bill, victims of strangulation will be eligible for compensation for cooperating with law enforcement by undergoing a forensic medical examination for this heinous crime.” The Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Act allows crime victims to receive compensation for cooperating with law enforcement officials. Under HB21-1165 , victims of strangulation would also be eligible for compensation to help cover the costs of forensic examinations to aid in law enforcement investigations. Costs can be a significant barrier to obtaining a forensic medical examination, and sometimes the physical effects don’t appear for several days after the crime was committed. Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to boost Colorado’s education workforce. < Back February 23, 2024 House Advances Hamrick’s Bipartisan Bill to Boost Educator Workforce DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to boost Colorado’s education workforce. HB24-1044 , sponsored by Representative Eliza Hamrick, would allow school districts to hire more Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) retirees, without the risk of the retirees losing their retirement benefits. “Colorado’s educator shortage is dire and our students deserve quality education,” said Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “This legislation would allow more retired educators and staff to return to the schools, without the risk of losing their PERA retirement benefits. To address our educator shortage, we need to use every tool available to us. This bill encourages retired teachers to return to the classroom and help our schools and most importantly – our students.” HB24-1044 , also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, would expand the number of service retirees that school districts may hire while still being eligible for PERA benefits. Specifically, school districts would be able to exceed the current 10 retiree cap by 1 retiree for every 1,000 students above 10,000 students. Under current law, school districts may only hire retirees when a “critical shortage of qualified instructors” is established. This bill aims to streamline placing educators in classrooms by instead allowing school districts to hire up to 10 retirees if the district identifies a “need” for additional instructors. Previous Next

< Back November 10, 2020 MCCLUSKIE AND HEROD APPOINTED TO JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE DENVER, CO — House Speaker-designate Alec Garnett today announced the appointment of Representatives Julie McCluskie and Leslie Herod to serve on the Joint Budget Committee (JBC). Herod will be the first Black woman from the House to serve on the JBC since Wilma Webb , who served in the House from 1980-1992 and on the JBC from 1983-1986. Rep. Julie McCluskie will now serve as the ranking member from the House Majority caucus. “We have so much talent in our caucus. Rep. McCluskie’s leadership through one of the most difficult budgets in state history was a service to the body and to the entire State of Colorado. The decision to reappoint her is a no-brainier as we chart a course to rebound from the pandemic and get Colorado’s economy back on track,” said House Speaker-designate Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “Rep. Herod has been a leader since the first day she stepped into the Capitol. I’m pleased she will put her policy making skills to work helping the people of Colorado. She’s one of the strongest voices for working families in the state, and I’m glad she will apply those skills to making sure Colorado’s economy works for everyone.” “I’m honored to get back to work on the JBC and to prioritize our students, teachers and critical services as we craft a budget that boosts our economy and helps Coloradans get through this crisis,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillion . “Rep. Herod will bring her wealth of experience fighting for Colorado communities to the JBC where I know she will be a force for justice as we work to build an economy where every Coloradan has a fair shot.” “It is an overwhelming honor to be named to serve on the Joint Budget Committee as our state works to rebound from the economic crisis caused by COVID,” said newly appointed JBC member Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “Being the first Black woman to serve in the role in decades only heightens how proud I am to be selected. I am eager and excited to dig into our state budget and get to work on behalf of the people of Colorado. It’s time to build back a stronger, more just and equitable economy in our state, and to ensure no one is left behind in our state’s recovery.” The JBC will meet tomorrow, November 11 at 9:00 AM, to formalize the JBC leadership for the upcoming session and begin hearings on the FY 2021-2022 budget request. The JBC schedule can be found here . Previous Next

The House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee today passed two bills to protect Colorado’s fresh water resources. < Back February 20, 2025 House Committee Passes Two Bills to Protect Colorado Water DENVER, CO – The House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee today passed two bills to protect Colorado’s fresh water resources. HB25-1115 would expand the duties of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and HB25-1113 would eliminate non-functional turf around certain multi-family housing. “Water is a part of our Western identity, and we must take steps now to preserve and protect the water resources we have,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, sponsor of HB25-1115. “To effectively manage Colorado's water supply, we need all the research and data available to inform our decisions. This bipartisan bill empowers the Colorado Water Conservation Board to expand their research, specifically around water supply measurement and snowpack, so we can better protect the freshwater Coloradans rely on for agriculture, household use, recreation and everything in between.” “Smart landscaping choices play a big role in conserving our precious water resources,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, sponsor of HB25-1113. “This bill builds upon our efforts to cut back on unnecessary water usage that maintains non-functional turf or invasive plant species. As our state experiences increased climate threats and extreme droughts, we must work to effectively manage and preserve the water we all rely on.” “When we cut back on the amount of non-functional turf or invasive grasses in our state, we preserve water while embracing our state’s native plants and species,” said Rep. Leslie Smith, D-Boulder, sponsor of HB25-1113. “Our bill encourages water-wise landscaping on multifamily housing, like apartments and condominiums. As we navigate a drier, hotter climate in Colorado we need to take steps now to conserve our precious water resources.” HB25-1115 , also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, R-Delta, passed committee by a vote of 13-0. This bill would help protect and preserve Colorado’s fresh water resources in the face of uncertain water conditions ahead. HB25-1115 would expand the power and responsibilities of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to oversee a statewide water supply measurement and a forecasting program. The bill would expand the CWCB’s water supply measurement program to: Collect and disseminate data on snowpack levels. Investigate the latest technological advances in snowpack measurement and water supply forecasting. Collect other data to assist in snowpack measurement, water supply forecasting, or flood hazard mapping. Colorado currently relies on a patchwork of smaller entities, like nonprofits and municipalities, to measure and map the state’s water resources. This bill would redirect funding already set aside from the Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Cash Fund to permanently support a statewide program, ensuring equitable support across the state. HB25-1113 , passed committee by a vote of 9-3. This bill aims to promote water-wise landscaping by prohibiting the installation or planting of non-functional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species on multi-family housing properties, specifically condominiums or apartment complexes with twelve or more units. Colorado lawmakers have championed multiple laws to ramp up water conservation in the state, including turf replacement and the reduction of non-functional turf on state and commercial properties. HB25-1113 builds off of SB24-005 by limiting the installation of high water-use, non-native plants on property owned and operated multi-family properties, including apartments or condominiums. Previous Next