The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to remove restrictions that require minimum lot sizes of over 2,000 square feet for single-family homes. HB26-1114, sponsored by Representatives Rebekah Stewart and Steven Woodrow, passed by a vote of 9-4. < Back February 18, 2026 Bill to Build More Housing that Hardworking Coloradans Can Afford Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to remove restrictions that require minimum lot sizes of over 2,000 square feet for single-family homes. HB26-1114, sponsored by Representatives Rebekah Stewart and Steven Woodrow, passed by a vote of 9-4. “Every Coloradan deserves a fair shot at homeownership, and our legislation would open up more housing options that families, young professionals and aging Coloradans can realistically buy,” said Rep. Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood. “Open land can be hard to come by in the Denver Metro Area, and it is getting increasingly difficult for affordable housing developers to find lots that meet the minimum lot size requirements. Our communities elected us to make our state a more affordable place to live, and this bill would eliminate barriers to get more housing opportunities built in our neighborhoods that Coloradans can afford.” “If we want to solve the housing crisis, we have to make it easier to build housing that Coloradans can actually afford, and smaller lot sizes mean smaller price tags,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver. “We know that arbitrary rules, like strict lot size restrictions, are often in place just to keep more housing from being built. Our legislation would allow single-family homes to be built on smaller plots of land to reduce urban sprawl and help more Coloradans realize their dream of becoming homeowners.” Beginning October 1, 2031, HB26-1114 would prohibit subject jurisdictions from requiring that a lot size for a single-family dwelling be greater than 2,000 square feet. A 2025 report by the National Zoning Atlas found that 98-percent of land that allows single-family housing has a minimum lot size requirement, with 86-percent of that land having a two-acre minimum lot size mandate. Rep. Woodrow sponsored a 2024 law to support local governments with their efforts to build more housing near public transit, cycling and walking corridors, places of employment and other centers of community. He also sponsored a law to eliminate parking minimum requirements for most new multi-family residential properties within a quarter mile of a transit stop or station to drive down housing costs and reduce traffic. Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation to update Colorado’s medical liability laws. The agreement from health care providers, business leaders and trial lawyers will prevent divisive ballot measures and provide certainty for both providers and patients. < Back May 6, 2024 Medical Liability Bill Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation to update Colorado’s medical liability laws. The agreement from health care providers, business leaders and trial lawyers will prevent divisive ballot measures and provide certainty for both providers and patients. HB24-1472 passed by a vote of 55 to 6. “I’m grateful to all the people who put aside differences and came together to do what’s best for Colorado and avoid divisive ballot measures,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville . “This bill will maintain access to health care, provide stability for providers and businesses, and ensure people can be compensated when they are injured because of negligence.” “By bringing people together, we’ve come to a long-term agreement that is good for Coloradans, ensures access to care and protects consumers,” said Health and Insurance Committee Chair Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “I appreciate the work of the sponsors, Governor Polis, business groups and consumer advocates to put aside their differences and bring forward legislation that will provide stability to the health care industry and allow patients and their families to pursue justice.” HB24-1472 , sponsored by Representative Kyle Brown and Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, makes changes to noneconomic loss or injury and wrongful death damages caps and allows a sibling of the deceased to bring a wrongful death action in certain circumstances. It also increases the recoverable amount for noneconomic damages medical malpractice actions. For civil actions filed on or after January 1, 2025, the bill increases the cap on damages for noneconomic loss or injury from $250,000 to $1.5 million and starting January 1, 2028, adjusts the damages cap based on inflation. The bill adds a sibling of the deceased as a party who may bring a wrongful death action in certain circumstances. The bill imposes a wrongful death damages cap of $2.125 million, and starting January 1, 2028, adjusts the damages cap based on inflation. The bill incrementally increases the medical malpractice wrongful death damages limitation to $1.575 million, and adjusts the cap for inflation. The bill incrementally increases the noneconomic damages limitation to $875,000, and adjusts the cap for inflation. Previous Next

Today Senate and House Leadership and Education Committee Chairs released statements following the Trump Administration’s decision to withhold up to $70 million in K-12 funding for Colorado schools – which had been previously appropriated by Congress for the 2025-2026 school year. < Back July 2, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: Democratic Leadership, Education Chairs Release Statements on Trump Withholding $70 Million from Colorado K-12 Schools DENVER, CO – Today Senate and House Leadership and Education Committee Chairs released statements following the Trump Administration’s decision to withhold up to $70 million in K-12 funding for Colorado schools – which had been previously appropriated by Congress for the 2025-2026 school year. In a letter to superintendents, Colorado Commissioner of Education Susana Cordova warned districts to “engage in contingency planning in the event that Colorado does not receive allocations by the close of the federal fiscal year on Sept. 30.” Earlier this year, Democrats passed legislation to create the Colorado Defense Fund and set aside $4 million to protect Colorado’s interests from federal efforts to freeze funding, halt contracts, or otherwise disrupt essential services for Coloradans. “This latest move by the Trump Administration is sending our school districts into financial panic. In Colorado, we worked together to sustainability and strategically increase public school funding,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “However, without these federal dollars, our schools, especially in rural and underserved areas, will be forced to lay off teachers and staff. The Department of Education isn’t just withholding competitive grants; they’re withholding dollars already set aside by Congress for the 2025-2026 school year. We cannot let this happen. I urge the Trump Administration to restore the funding so our school districts can continue to meet the needs of our students.” “Coloradans pay our share in federal taxes, and in return, our public schools rely on federal funding,” said President James Coleman, D-Denver. “The Trump Administration is withholding millions of already allocated dollars that have been budgeted for teacher training, afterschool and summer programs, and students learning English. Politics should never stand in the way of supporting our kids and their future.” “Public education is the cornerstone of a strong community, and we need these federal dollars working for our students in Colorado, not tied up in Washington D.C.,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “In Colorado, we stand up for our students and teachers. This is just another attempt by the Trump Administration to dismantle our education systems and withhold federal funding from school districts and devoted educators, like my mom, who worked as a special education and bilingual teacher for years.” “The Trump Administration’s decision to withhold tens of millions of dollars of funding for students and teachers will devastate districts’ budgets that they just finalized,” said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “These programs – like after school care and English language learning programs – support some of our most vulnerable students and are critical to their future success and opportunity. This funding must be released and sent to schools as previously promised – it’s what Colorado students and teachers deserve.” “In Colorado, funding our schools is bipartisan, but this federal funding freeze will set our rural and underserved districts back,” said Chair of the House Education Committee Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs . “As a teacher, I know we are used to doing more with less, but this move jeopardizes funding for the upcoming school year for certain after-school programs and specialized support for students living with disabilities, and English Language Learners. Colorado needs this funding so our students can succeed in the classroom.” “This federal funding for K-12 schools was already appropriated and approved by Congress, but now Trump is withholding these critical dollars because we’re not kowtowing to his agenda,” said Chair of the Senate Education Committee Chris Kolker, D-Centennial. “We have worked hard to support our students, schools, and teachers by boosting per pupil funding and creating the Kids Matter Fund, but school districts need the federal funding that was promised to them to make ends meet for this coming school year. The US Department of Education must release these funds and make things right for Colorado kids.” Previous Next

< Back May 10, 2021 BIPARTISAN BILL TO EXPAND PEACE OFFICER MENTAL HEALTH GRANT PROGRAM PASSES Rep. Julie McCluskie’s bill to expand the successful peace officers behavioral health support grant program passes house on third reading DENVER, CO– The House today passed Rep. Julie McCluskie’s bipartisan bill to modify the existing peace officer mental health grant program to expand and enhance community based law enforcement response efforts. The bill passed by a vote of 57-6. “Expanding the Peace Officer Mental Health Grant Program to include a focus on co-responder and community partnership programs is responsive to the many behavioral health and social services needs we are seeing in Colorado’s communities,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “It’s important that we diversify the tools available to create a continuum of responses for individuals in crisis and connect them to the support they deserve. Expanding this grant program will do just that.” The Peace Officer Mental Health Grant program provides financial assistance to law enforcement agencies for services such as counseling and mental health support for peace officers, on-scene response services to support peace officers’ handling of people with behavioral health issues, use of force training, and more. HB21-1030 , also sponsored by Minority Leader Hugh McKean, R-Loveland, removes the grant program’s repeal date and expands the allowable uses of the grant funds to include on-scene responses for social service needs in addition to mental health, meaning responders could direct individuals toward help with housing, food insecurity and more. The program will continue to fund direct mental health support services for peace officers and will open up additional opportunities for collaborative responses to calls for service between public safety entities and community-based providers. Previous Next

< Back January 14, 2021 SEVENTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY KICKS OFF; URGENT LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO — Today, on the first legislative day of the Seventy-Third General Assembly, the Colorado House of Representatives met to address pressing business and to swear in new members. At the end of this week, the General Assembly will go into a temporary adjournment, with the aim of returning to the Capitol tentatively on February 16. After floor debate, House Committees met to consider four urgently needed pieces of legislation. The following bills were heard and passed out of the House State Affairs Committee: HB21-1001 : Ensures the smooth continuation of our democracy by giving leeway to members of a party central committee or vacancy committee to participate in a committee meeting remotely, including by casting the member’s vote by email, mail, telephone, or through an internet-based application if allowed by the party’s rules, through the end of 2021. The bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole by a vote of 10-1. HB21-1003: Protects public health by allowing members of the General Assembly to safely participate in legislative proceedings remotely during a declared disaster emergency. The bill also permits joint committees of reference to hold SMART Act hearings remotely any time after the General Assembly convenes, allowing legislative oversight to continue during the temporary adjournment between now and February. The bill was moved to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation by a vote of 7-4. The following bills were heard and passed out of the House Finance Committee: HB21-1002: Clarifies the original intent of HB20-1420 to address unintended consequences impacting business and independent tax filers. HB20-1420 aimed to decouple Colorado from federal tax changes in the CARES act, leaving taxpayers no better nor worse off than prior to the passage of CARES. Since the passage of HB20-1420, the bill has been misinterpreted to disallow taxpayers the ability to carry forward various tax benefits over the annual allowable limit to future tax filing years. This bill affirms taxpayers ability to carry forward specified amounts. The bill also allows ITIN filers to claim the Earned Income Tax credit beginning in the 2020 tax year. The bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee by a vote of 8-3. HB21-1004: Protects public health by enacting the “Colorado Uniform Electronic Wills Act,” which ensures that Coloradans can settle their affairs remotely, without putting their health or the health of their loved ones at risk. The bill permits the execution of wills using online platforms designed for the remote notarization of electronic documents. The bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole by a unanimous vote. Previous Next

< Back April 26, 2022 HOUSE COMMITTEE CLEARS BIPARTISAN BILLS TO IMPROVE YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, ACCESS TO FOOD Legislation directs more than $27 million in federal pandemic relief funds to improve outcomes for Colorado youth through behavioral health programs and healthy food access DENVER, CO – The House Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee passed three bipartisan bills to improve outcomes for Colorado’s youth and most vulnerable residents. These bills invest more than $27 million in federal pandemic relief funds to expand behavioral health programs for children and improve youth access to healthy food. “Our neighbors have not been immune to the rising cost of groceries, which is why we are investing federal funds to make it easier for Coloradans in the most vulnerable communities to access healthy, nutritious foods,” said Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, sponsor of HB22-1380. “The Community Food Access Program is the right move for better connecting low-income Coloradans with the services they need while supporting small businesses in the process.” Reducing the Cost of Food and Boosting Access to Critical Services: HB22-1380 , sponsored by Representatives Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Rod Pelton, would direct $14 million in federal pandemic relief funds to save people money on healthy food and increase critical services for low-income individuals. This bill invests $8 million to create the Community Food Access Program to support small food retailers and small farmers to ensure underserved communities have access to healthy, fresh foods through a consortium and grant program. The program supports small food retailers and grocery stores with technical assistance, and one-time grants of up to $25,000 to strengthen Colorado’s food value chain. The bill also directs $2 million in federal relief funds to efficiently identify SNAP recipients who are also eligible for utility bill assistance, $3 million for a universal high-quality work management system to reduce administrative costs and streamline the application process for various benefit programs; and $1 million to support technology upgrades and integrate the Double Up Food Bucks Program in local food retails stores increasing the access to healthy foods for SNAP recipients. HB22-1380 passed committee by a unanimous vote. “We are tackling Colorado’s youth behavioral health crisis from multiple angles,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of SB22-147. “During my career as a school psychologist, I experienced firsthand the behavioral health improvement possible when students and their families had access to the right services. This substantial investment of federal relief funds will expand youth access to critical behavioral health care.” Behavioral Health Care Services for Youth and Families: SB22-147 , sponsored by Representatives Mary Young and Rod Pelton, aims to improve access to behavioral health care services for youth and families by utilizing $11.1 million of federal relief funds distributed through three programs. $4.6 million will support the Colorado Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation and Access Program (CoPPCAP) which provides support and assistance to primary care providers and pediatricians to help identify and treat children with behavioral health needs. $5 million will go toward increasing the number of school health professionals who can provide behavioral health services to students, while $1.5 million will expand school-based health centers in Colorado. SB22-147 passed committee by a vote of 10-0. “Stressful and traumatic conditions can have negative, long-term impacts on the behavioral health of our youngest kids,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver, sponsor of HB22-1369. “We’re using federal relief dollars to invest in our youth’s behavioral health through the creation of early intervention and home-based prevention programs tailored towards children and their families experiencing chronic stress or trauma.” Children’s Mental Health Programs: HB22-1369 , sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Rod Pelton, would invest $2 million in pandemic relief funding to provide evidence-based behavioral health programs for children six years old and younger experiencing chronic stress or trauma at home. This bill invests in a home-based prevention and early intervention mental health program for children and their families to address the psychological damage caused by chronically stressful experiences. HB22-1369 passed committee by a vote of 10-0. Previous Next

< Back March 17, 2022 DEFEATED: GOP ANTI-SCIENCE IVERMECTIN COVID MISINFORMATION BILL DENVER, CO – Democrats on the House Health and Insurance Committee today defeated a dangerous and misguided bill sponsored by Representative Stephanie Luck that recklessly promotes the use of ineffective and unapproved drugs like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19. “Other than for a few specific reasons, Ivermectin is meant for animals, and I would know since I’m a veterinarian,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “GOP politicians urged on by former President Trump have spread dangerous misinformation about unproven COVID treatments and encouraged the use of these drugs, leading to many overdoses. At the same time, they sowed doubt about COVID vaccines, which are proven to be highly effective and which save lives. Their rhetoric based on unscientific claims and misinformation has endangered people’s lives, and I hope this is the last year we see this misguided bill.” HB22-1015 promotes the practice of prescribing hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin off-label for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. The World Health Organization has warned against using hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, and the FDA has been vocal about the dangers of using ivermectin , especially veterinary ivermectin, which is intended for livestock. The use of these drugs can cause adverse effects in patients, and they have been proven to be ineffective in treating COVID-19. In the fall of 2021, poison control centers reported seeing a surge in ivermectin overdose calls linked to COVID misinformation. People have been hospitalized after taking ivermectin, even after receiving a prescription . The bill would waive liability for doctors whose patients experience adverse health impacts as a result of being prescribed Ivermectin off label. The bill failed on a party line vote of 4 to 7. Previous Next

< Back February 4, 2021 HOUSE DEMOCRATS MARK NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS WEEK DENVER- Today, members of the House Democratic Caucus, led by their colleague Rep. Tom Sullivan (D-Centennial), released the following statement commemorating National Gun Violence Survivor’s week: “This week, from Monday February 1st through Sunday the 7th, is National Gun Violence Survivors Week. “The week was first commemorated in 2019 as part of an effort to amplify the stories and voices of gun violence survivors who live with the traumatic impacts of gun violence every day. Given our country’s tragically high gun death rate as compared to the rest of the world, early February marks the average point at which more people are killed with firearms in the U.S. than are killed with firearms in our peer countries in a whole year . These harrowing numbers include the number of deaths by suicide in which a gun is used, which claim the lives of 23,000 Americans every year . “When mass shootings occur, media reports are quick to quote the number of lives senselessly lost. It is much more difficult, and much more daunting, to calculate the number of lives affected. Nearly 60% of adults in our country can be considered survivors of gun violence, meaning they have either experienced gun violence themselves or have a close friend or family member who has directly experienced gun violence in their lifetimes. The number of individuals who have been impacted is even higher in Black and Latinx communities. “House and Senate Democrats are no strangers to gun violence. Several of us have lost loved ones to this epidemic, a few of us are among the countless Americans who have survived gun violence personally, and all of us are determined to take action to curb gun violence in our communities and across our state. “Colorado has experienced a series of tragic and high profile mass shootings, and everyday acts of gun violence, including deaths by suicide, continue to plague our society. Acknowledging the damaging and pervasive impact that gun violence can have long after a shooting has occurred is more important than ever, as we continue to lose loved ones and while certain dark corners of society deny the truth of tragic mass shootings in our children’s schools. This week, as we uplift the voices and stories of those who live with the impacts of this epidemic within our caucus and across the state of Colorado, we pledge to continue our work to stem this violent tide.” Signed, Representatives Susan Lontine, Alec Garnett, Meg Froelich, Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Alex Valdez, Steve Woodrow, Jennifer Bacon, Leslie Herod, Emily Sirota, Edie Hooton, Karen McCormick, Tracey Bernett, Judy Amabile, Tony Exum, Sr., Marc Snyder, Chris Kennedy, Monica Duran, Lisa Cutter, Dylan Roberts, Brianna Titone, Kerry Tipper, Lindsey Daugherty, Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Yadira Caraveo, Adrienne Benavidez, Kyle Mullica, Shannon Bird, Mike Weissman, Tom Sullivan, David Ortiz, Naquetta Ricks, Iman Jodeh, Dominique Jackson, Daneya Esgar, Mary Young, Cathy Kipp, Barbara McLachlan, Julie McCluskie and Donald Valdez. Previous Next

< Back April 11, 2023 Hospital Community-Benefit Bill Advances in House DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to bolster community-based health care services across the state. “Large non-profit hospital systems must invest in community-based programs to qualify for tax exemptions, but broad guidelines often leave communities without the services they need,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “By strengthening accountability for how hospitals spend resources in the community and requiring them to incorporate more feedback, we can ensure these investments reduce costs for consumers, increase access to critical services and improve public health.” HB23-1243 centers hospitals’ community benefit spending around local under-privileged communities by incorporating community feedback into the community benefit implementation plan and restricting the amount of out-of-state spending that can be counted as “community benefit” spending. The bill would also require each reporting hospital to seek feedback from their community during its annual proposed community benefit implementation plan, submit a detailed report about any discussions or decisions at the annual meeting, make the report public, and execute a community benefit plan that addresses the needs of the community as discussed in the annual meeting to better understand the impact of the spending has on the health of Coloradans. Under the bill, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) would be required to hold stakeholder meetings to ensure low-income residents, people of color, people with disabilities, people with serious mental illness, and others experiencing disproportionate health outcomes are fairly represented in the hospital’s community benefit spending plan. HCPF would also create an annual report that summarizes the estimated federal and state tax exemptions of each reporting hospital, establish a minimum annual community investment requirement, and sets compliance requirements for hospitals. HCPF would be able to apply corrective action or fines for reporting hospitals that do not abide by the guidelines set by this bill. Additionally, the bill enhances existing public meeting requirements and ensures representation from the tribal council and Urban Indian Organization who have hospitals within their communities. Institutions of higher learning will also be represented to help bring meaningful input into discussions on spending. Previous Next

< Back March 11, 2020 REP. YOUNG’S BILL TO GROW RURAL RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY ADVANCES Representative Mary Young’s bipartisan legislation to extend and expand the Renewable Energy Refundability Program, part of the Enterprise Zone program, today passed the House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor by a vote of 8-3. “Rural economies are strengthened by our growing renewable energy industry,” said Rep. Young, D-Greeley. “The Enterprise Zone program has helped create jobs across our state in rural areas and has spurred renewable energy projects that are contributing to our economy and local governments. We need to keep this program going and allow it to foster new and critical technologies.” The Enterprise Zone (EZ) program helps businesses in rural and economically distressed areas by providing a variety of tax credits and incentives. One of these incentives encourages new renewable energy businesses to create projects in rural parts of the state. The EZ Investment Tax Credit provides businesses investing in business personal property with a 3 percent state income tax credit. If a business generates renewable energy, they also have the option of converting the credit to a refund at 80 percent of the credit’s value, which can help incentivize businesses to construct renewables projects by assuring them that much of their initial investment in a project will be repaid. HB20-1299, which is also sponsored by Representative Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, would extend the tax credit for three years and expand the definition of renewable energy to include “energy storage systems,” which are critical for keeping power flowing when renewable sources such as solar and wind cannot generate power because the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. The tax credit has helped prominent renewable energy projects get off the ground in Colorado. EZ renewable energy credits helped finance the Rush Creek Wind Farm, which spans five Eastern Plains counties. It also encouraged the development of the Prowers Wind Farm, which created 250 jobs during construction. Previous Next

Bill aims to create more opportunities for Colorado voters to participate in vacancy elections < Back April 23, 2025 Bipartisan Legislative Vacancy Reform Bill Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation to reform Colorado’s vacancy process used to replace a senator or representative if they leave office before their term ends. HB25-1315, sponsored by Representative Emily Sirota and Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, passed by a vote of 55-9. “In a bipartisan way, we’re modernizing Colorado’s vacancy committee process to boost voter participation while filling vacancies efficiently,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We’ve heard the concerns surrounding our current vacancy process, and our bill limits the amount of time someone can serve before facing an election and subjects vacancy candidates to campaign finance laws. Lawmakers resign for many reasons, and this bill is the right balance between creating more opportunities for voters to weigh in and ensuring communities aren’t without representation during the legislative session.” HB25-1315 aims to increase transparency in the vacancy committee process and broaden voter participation when a legislative vacancy occurs. Under current law, vacancies in the General Assembly are filled by vacancy committee selection until the next general election. Colorado’s approach offers voters more opportunities to participate in the vacancy process than many other states, where governors or small commissions make the appointments. The legislative session begins no later than the second Wednesday of January and wraps up 120 days later. HB25-1315 would affect vacancies in the General Assembly in the following ways: If a lawmaker resigns during session or by July 31 in an even-year, the new vacancy committee process will take place, and then the selected candidate would run in the normally scheduled general election that November. If a lawmaker resigns after July 31 in an even-year, the vacancy would be filled first by the new vacancy committee process, and then there would be a new vacancy election in the following odd-year November election. If the seat was already on cycle for that even-year, the general election held in November of that year would continue as normal. If a lawmaker resigns during session or by July 31 in an odd-year, the new vacancy committee process would fill the seat until a new vacancy election can occur in November of that year. If a lawmaker resigns after July 31 in an odd-year, the new vacancy committee process would take place and fill the seat until the next general election in the even-year. In any scenario, lawmakers would only be able to serve one year before having to run in an election. To run for the vacancy, candidates could qualify by collecting signatures from 30 percent of the vacancy committee members or at least 200 same-party voters in their district. This process aims to improve ballot access for candidates. Unaffiliated voters and voters of the same party would be allowed to participate in the vacancy election. Vacancy candidates running in both the new vacancy committee process and the subsequent vacancy elections in November will be subject to campaign contribution limits and disclosure laws. Currently, candidates participating in the vacancy process are not subject to campaign finance laws. Under the bill, the number of precinct organizers serving on the vacancy committee would double and automatically include any county commissioners who are members of the political party and reside within the district. If a precinct committee person is appointed to fill an open position on the selection committee, they cannot participate in the process until 91 days after their appointment. The House also passed HB25-1319 by a vote of 52-12. This bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge and Minority Leader Pugliese, would apply the same vacancy committee process and subsequent vacancy elections to county commissioners. Previous Next

< Back February 9, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BILL TO PROTECT VETERANS FROM HOUSING DISCRIMINATION DENVER, CO — The House today passed HB22-1102 , sponsored by Representatives Sullivan and Ortiz, which would establish new housing protections for veterans. The vote was 50-12. “Right now in Colorado, veterans and active service members are facing housing discrimination when they go to rent or buy a home,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton . “This bill will make it illegal for landlords and lenders to withhold housing and discriminate against veterans and active service members. It’s already difficult enough to find affordable housing; with this bill, we’re breaking down barriers to ensure sure discrimination based on military status isn’t one of the hurdles they face.” “Housing discrimination based on veteran or military status is flat out wrong,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial . “This bill makes sure the men and women who served our county aren’t denied a place to live when they return home to Colorado.” Over 400,000 veterans call Colorado home. HB22-1102 prohibits anyone selling or leasing a dwelling from discriminating against an individual based on their veteran or military status. The bill also prohibits someone from refusing to negotiate for housing with a veteran or otherwise denying or withholding housing based on someone’s veteran or military status. The bill would add veteran or military status to Colorado law that currently prohibits housing discrimination because of a person’s disability, race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry or familial status. The bill does not extend these protections to those who have been dishonorably discharged. Previous Next