The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to increase access to veterinary care, especially in rural and underserved Colorado communities < Back February 9, 2024 McCormick Legislation to Increase Access to Veterinary Care Advances in House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote to increase access to veterinary care, especially in rural and underserved Colorado communities. HB24-1047 would allow veterinary technicians and veterinary technician specialists to perform additional tasks related to the care and treatment of animals. “We must take a responsible approach to address Colorado’s shortage in veterinary medicine that ensures the best care for our beloved pets and animals,” said Veterinarian Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “This legislation will allow veterinary technicians to practice to the full extent of their training and expertise, thereby extending access to veterinary care across the state. My goal with this legislation is to ensure our pets and animals, especially in rural and underserved communities, have access to the veterinary care they need to keep them safe and healthy.” HB24-1047 , also sponsored by Representative Marc Caitlin, R-Montrose, would help address Colorado’s veterinary storage by allowing veterinarians who have established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship to delegate certain tasks to veterinary technicians and veterinary technician specialists. This bill aims to elevate the veterinary technician profession as mid-level providers. One piece of the puzzle toward addressing the veterinary crisis is to fully utilize the education, skill-set, and expertise of veterinary technicians and veterinary technician specialists in providing care to animals in our state. Additionally, to ensure Colorado’s animals are receiving high-quality care, HB24-1047 would establish a framework for supervision and delegation by veterinarians and requires continuing education for veterinary technicians and veterinary technician specialists. The House also passed HB24-1048 on a preliminary vote, sponsored by Representatives McCormick and Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, to establish a framework and guidelines for the use of telehealth for veterinary services. Previous Next

House Democratic Leadership and JBC Members Shannon Bird and Emily Sirota today released the following statements on Governor Jared Polis’ call for a special session to address the disastrous impacts of Congressional Republicans’ federal budget bill: < Back August 6, 2025 House Leadership and JBC Members: Special Session Is Necessary to Address Disastrous Impacts of GOP’s Federal Budget Bill DENVER, CO– House Democratic Leadership and JBC Members Shannon Bird and Emily Sirota today released the following statements on Governor Jared Polis’ call for a special session to address the disastrous impacts of Congressional Republicans’ federal budget bill: “Republicans’ federal budget will both kick Coloradans off their health insurance and make health insurance more expensive for all Coloradans and by nearly 40 percent on the Western Slope, leaving us with no choice but to convene for a special legislative session to address the crisis the GOP has created,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “All Coloradans are now the collateral damage from the GOP’s cruel bill, which will jeopardize services for hardworking families, children, veterans and older Coloradans. We’ll work hard to minimize the fallout on our communities, but that requires us to act now to mitigate the harm this bill has caused our state.” “Coloradans cannot afford the GOP’s budget, which gives tax breaks to the wealthiest people and corporations at the expense of working families,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “When Congressional Republicans blew a $1 billion hole in our state budget, they failed our seniors, hard working parents, crime survivors and nearly everyone who relies on community-based services to make ends meet. Democrats will be offering responsible solutions to this budget crisis to help avoid painful cuts to core services people depend on.” “The GOP’s reckless budget has forced us to hold a special legislative session so we can protect Colorado from the billion-dollar hole Gabe Evans, Jeff Crank, Lauren Boebert and Jeff Hurd have created in our budget,” said JBC Vice Chair Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Three months ago, we made over $1 billion in budget cuts and adjourned with a balanced budget; now we’re facing another $1.2 billion deficit. I am deeply concerned by the pain the federal budget will inflict on vulnerable people and the increased costs on families. We are committed to finding responsible solutions, but this billion dollar hole in our state budget will require difficult decisions.” “The federal budget passed by the GOP Congress increases costs for middle class families, kicks Coloradans off their health insurance, and blows a billion-dollar hole in our state budget in order to give massive tax handouts to the wealthiest people and corporations,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver, a member of the JBC. “Make no mistake, the GOP budget is a wealth transfer from the most vulnerable people who are struggling to make ends meet to billionaires. We have a choice to make now: We can continue tax handouts for the very wealthy or we can protect funding for education, public safety and health care for all Coloradans.” State economists anticipate an over $1 billion hole in the state budget for the current fiscal year that began on July 1, despite having a balanced budget when the legislature adjourned in May. Lawmakers already had to address a $1.2 billion deficit during the regular 2025 legislative session, and now face an additional $1.2 billion hole from H.R. 1. H.R.1 Devastates Colorado’s State Budget Both Legislative Council economists and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) estimate a revenue reduction of $1.2 billion this fiscal year (FY26), and OSBP estimates a reduction of $679 million in FY27 and future years. Forecasts estimate the state will be $783 million below the TABOR cap in this fiscal year (FY26), meaning that taxpayers will not receive TABOR refunds and there will not be surplus revenue available to pay for the Senior Homestead Exemption in FY27, creating additional pressures on the state General Fund. Federal Budget Bill Cuts Medicaid, Kicks Coloradans Off Health Insurance, and Raises Premiums Congressional Republicans’ refusal to extend enhanced premium tax credits in the federal budget bill for people who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, premiums for private health insurance are forecasted to go up an average of 28 percent with parts of Colorado, especially on the Western Slope, seeing premium increases of 38 percent. Colorado’s successful, bipartisan reinsurance program will be significantly reduced, and every Coloradan will pay more for their health insurance. Over 112,000 Coloradans who purchase their own insurance on the individual market could lose health insurance coverage, and many more will face higher premiums. Under H.R. 1, up to 193,000 Coloradans are expected to lose Medicaid health insurance coverage. Eventually, 377,000 Coloradans will be at risk of disenrollment from Medicaid. The federal budget slashes provider payments and cuts federal funding for Medicaid, Medicaid Expansion, programs for Coloradans with Disabilities, and CHP+ coverage for children and pregnant women. It also reduces reimbursements to Colorado hospitals. These cuts are expected to cost the state Medicaid program $2.5 billion by 2032. H.R.1’s Impacts Turn Off EITC and FATC for the Next Two Tax Years Reduced revenue means that the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansion and the Family Affordability Tax Credit (FATC) will be turned off for the next two tax years, increasing taxes for working people and families and taking money away from some of the most vulnerable Coloradans. With the EITC expansion and the FATC in effect, an average family with two children under six-years-old and an earned income of $50,000 would have received approximately $4,870 in tax credits. With the programs turned off, Colorado workers and families will receive $0. Changes to SNAP Will Affect 600,000 Coloradans Who Rely on Food Assistance H.R. 1 includes significant reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and shifts the cost burden to states. Colorado expects to see $170 million in cuts to SNAP, affecting the more than 600,000 Coloradans who rely on SNAP to afford food for themselves and their families. Many participants will lose food assistance or be forced to overcome new administrative hurdles to demonstrate that they meet narrow work requirements. Rollback of Clean Energy Will Result in Higher Costs and Job Losses H.R. 1 rolls back, modifies or completely eliminates tax credits for energy-efficient new homes, residential clean energy and electric vehicles (EVs). An analysis of the final language estimates these policies will result in 1,950 jobs lost and a household income loss of $190 in Colorado, as well as increased energy costs for consumers. According to the Colorado Energy Office, H.R. 1 is projected to increase residential gas prices in Colorado by 3.4 percent by 2029 and electricity prices by up to 10 percent by 2035. Colorado households could see a $500 increase in annual energy costs by 2035. Previous Next

< Back February 2, 2023 Bill to Expand Employee-Owned Business Incentives Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Finance Committee today unanimously passed legislation that expands the Employee Ownership Tax Credit. The vote was 11-0. “Employee-owned business models promote higher wages, job security, and better benefit options for hard-working Coloradans,” said Rep. William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield. “The Employee Ownership Tax Credit is an innovative tool for business owners looking to sell or retire and helps address the affordability issues we’re facing in Colorado. This bill builds on the established program by expanding the credit to incentivize more businesses to stay in capable local hands in our communities.” In 2021, Colorado Democrats created a first-in-the-nation refundable income tax credit that incentivizes business owners to move towards employee-owned business models. It allows business owners that are looking to move on from the company to pass the business on to employees, allowing the business to stay within the community and giving hard-working Coloradans a stake in the company. HB23-1081 expands on the Employee Ownership Tax Credit by: Making partially employee-owned businesses eligible to help cover the costs associated with expanding employee ownership; Permitting new methods that businesses are using to transfer equity to employees; and Strengthening incentives for eligible businesses that are transitioning to employee ownership with existing resources. Previous Next

Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, today released the following statement in response to Majority Leader Dominick Moreno’s departure from the Colorado General Assembly: < Back August 4, 2023 Majority Leader Duran’s Statement on Departure of Senate Majority Leader Moreno DENVER, CO – Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, today released the following statement in response to Majority Leader Dominick Moreno’s departure from the Colorado General Assembly: “Over the years Majority Leader Moreno’s dedication to his community has been unwavering at the Capitol. His steadfast leadership combined with his ability to bridge compromise was invaluable during his time at the legislature. “As Majority Leaders, our roles require us to be excellent relationship builders as we work to understand each and every member in our chamber. From experience, I can say Majority Leader Moreno is an expert in connecting with people and always works to find solutions. “Though he will be missed, especially by the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus, I want to thank Majority Leader Moreno for his contributions to our state and wish him well in his new role in Denver.” Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to reduce lead and noise pollution caused by airplanes. HB24-1235, sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Shannon Bird and Senate President Steve Fenberg and Senator Rachel Zenzinger, will protect communities from aviation fuel lead emissions and noise pollution. < Back May 17, 2024 SIGNED! Legislation to Reduce Lead and Noise Pollution, Protect Colorado’s Air SUPERIOR, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to reduce lead and noise pollution caused by airplanes. HB24-1235, sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Shannon Bird and Senate President Steve Fenberg and Senator Rachel Zenzinger, will protect communities from aviation fuel lead emissions and noise pollution. “More than 25 years after the phase-out of leaded gasoline for passenger vehicles, leaded aviation fuel is still present in Colorado and can have adverse health effects on our communities, especially children and youth,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “This law will improve our public health and help transition aircraft away from the use of leaded fuel. Our community-driven legislation works to ensure that airports are good neighbors to their surrounding communities by addressing both the dangers of lead exposure and the quality of life impacts of noise pollution.” “Over the last few years, I have received countless constituent emails, phone calls, and town hall questions about pervasive noise and lead pollution caused by aviation,” Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, said. “Time and time again, impacted Coloradans were told that due to federal preemption, there was nothing that could be done to protect them from these negative impacts. This year, we got creative and came up with a policy that asks airports to do their part to reduce aviation noise while supporting them in their transition away from leaded fuels. However, this marks just the first step in meaningfully addressing the problem. There’s much more work ahead to ensure impacted communities and regional airports can coexist in Colorado.” “As our state’s population grows, smaller airports are seeing more traffic than ever before, which means increased noise and air pollution in our communities,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Coloradans have the right to live peacefully in their homes without the constant noise of low level air traffic; this law will require creation of noise mitigation plans and airports will need to help educate pilots about how they can minimize their impact on residential neighborhoods. There is no safe level of lead exposure for our children, and our law works to clean up our air while prioritizing the health of our neighbors.” “Communities I represent in Jefferson County are experiencing firsthand the effects of aviation noise and lead pollution,” Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, said. “These adverse impacts take a toll on a person’s well-being and simply shouldn’t have to be a part of life for folks living near regional airports like Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. This important law is our response to community concerns to help neighborhoods and airports find a way to coexist, protect the health of Coloradans, and make sure our state remains a great place to live and raise a family.” HB24-1235 will help ensure communities and airports coexist better by easing the transition to unleaded fuels for aircraft owners and airports and ensuring airports maintain sustained noise mitigation efforts. Specifically, this law: Incentivizes aircraft owners to transition their planes from using leaded to unleaded fuel by providing a refundable income tax credit for qualified expenses Ensures that the lesser of 10 percent or $1.5M of State Aviation System grant funding per year goes toward aiding the transition to unleaded aviation gasoline Requires grant recipients to both adopt a plan for phasing out sales of leaded gasoline by 2030, and establishes a noise abatement plan Adds two members to the Colorado Aeronautical Board who are residents of communities affected by aviation Requires the Division of Aeronautics to work with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment to evaluate, educate, and provide technical assistance to airports regarding adverse impacts of aircraft noise and leaded aviation fuel This new law aims to respond to community concerns about increased aviation activity in the Denver Metro area which is home to two of the top five airports with the most general aviation activity in the country. Leaded fuel, commonly used by recreation pilots and pilots-in-training, is a leading source of lead emissions and excessive exposure to lead has many harmful health effects across various bodily functions. Previous Next

The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed a bill sponsored by Representative Naquetta Ricks that would require companies to post the full price of a product, good, or service, including any mandatory fees, to improve price transparency for Colorado consumers. HB24-1151 passed by a vote of 7-3. < Back February 28, 2024 Ricks Bill to Increase Price Transparency Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee today passed a bill sponsored by Representative Naquetta Ricks that would require companies to post the full price of a product, good, or service, including any mandatory fees, to improve price transparency for Colorado consumers. HB24-1151 passed by a vote of 7-3. “From ‘service fees’ to ‘processing fees’, last-minute fees for goods and services cost families over $3,000 per year, taking hard-earned money from Colorado families to boost corporate profits,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “These fees mislead consumers about the true price of a good or service, driving customers away from Colorado businesses that are honest about their prices. Our legislation would require businesses to include any mandatory fees when posting the price of their goods and services so Coloradans can compare prices and trust that the price they see is what they can expect to pay.” HB24-1151 would prohibit a company from advertising the price of certain products, goods, or services unless they disclose all of the mandatory or non-discretionary fees upfront. Violation of this law would be an unfair or deceptive trade practice subject to a fine for each violation. Greystar, the largest apartment management company in the U.S., was recently sued by a Colorado resident for charging hidden fees that were not included in the advertised monthly rental rate. The average American family reportedly spends over $3,200 per year on junk fees. Previous Next

< Back February 5, 2020 BILL TO ABOLISH COLUMBUS DAY MOVES FORWARD DENVER, CO — Rep. Adrienne Benavidez’s bill to replace Columbus Day with another holiday was approved by the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today. As currently amended, the bill would abolish Columbus Day and replace it with a holiday celebrating Frances Xavier Cabrini on the first Monday in October in recognition of her service and dedication to the wellbeing of children and the Italian American community in Colorado and across the country. The bill passed 6-2. “The memory and legacy of Christopher Columbus are a painful reminder of injustice in the minds of indigenous people across our state,” said Rep. Adrienne Benavidez (D-Adams County). “Having a day set aside every year to celebrate the life of a rapist and known perpetrator of genocide is cruel and unacceptable. Coloradans deserve a holiday that celebrates someone who shares their values, and Frances Xavier Cabrini fits the bill perfectly.” “We cannot continue to present a revisionist and inaccurate version of history by celebrating Columbus and his ‘discovery’ of America,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy (D-Lakewood), who chairs the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee. “Holidays in our state should celebrate individuals who contributed to the progress and wellbeing of our nation and its people — not genocidal colonialists. It is time to end the pain and suffering that this holiday causes and replace it with a holiday celebrating someone worthy of the honor.” As currently amended, HB20-1031 would establish Cabrini Day as a state holiday in place of Columbus Day in recognition of her humanitarian values and lifelong dedication to service, especially to the Italian American immigrant community, who faced untold discrimination and difficulty as they migrated to America. She worked tirelessly to support the Italian-American community in the United States, including through several projects in Colorado. In 1904, Cabrini established Denver’s Queen of Heaven Orphanage for girls. In 1910, she founded a summer camp for the orphanage’s residents in Golden, Colorado. Currently, a shrine stands in her honor in the original location of the summer camp in Golden. The shrine includes the “Stone House”, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Previous Next

< Back July 6, 2020 GOV. SIGNS BILLS TO IMPROVE BROADBAND ACCESS, DMV SERVICES AND PLAT RECORDS New laws will improve broadband access in rural Colorado, permanently implement the DMV kiosk program and provide a new option to record plats digitally. Grand Junction, CO– Today, Governor Jared Polis signed three bills at the Mesa County Service Center into law. The new laws improve broadband access in rural areas, continue the successful DMV kiosk program and allow county clerks to record plats digitally. HB20-1137 , sponsored by Representatives Julie McCluskie and Matt Soper, helps small rural communities get the resources they need to develop and establish broadband technology. Under the law, broadband grant applicants may submit a proposal to the broadband deployment board for consideration certifying that the applicant operates in an underserved area. The board will be required to give preference to areas that are significantly underserved. “Now more than ever, rural Colorado communities need access to broadband internet services,” said Representative Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “Students and families are working from home, and too many Coloradans in rural areas do not have access to broadband. This law will give small, underserved communities a greater voice in securing broadband grant funds from the state.” Representatives Matt Gray and Terri Carver sponsored SB20-035 , which expands and makes permanent the pilot DMV kiosk program. Currently, kiosks can issue driver’s licenses, register motor vehicles or issue certificates of title. The bill expands the functions of the kiosks to include telephone or internet services and also eliminates the $3.00 service fee and adds data security and accessibility requirements. “The kiosk program has proven to be a convenient tool for Coloradans to get their business done at the DMV,” said Representative Matt Gray, D-Broomfield . “During these times, it’s more important than ever to ensure that Coloradans can social distance and access the services they need.” Sponsored by Representatives Shannon Bird and Perry Will, HB20-1318 gives county clerks and recorders the authority to receive and preserve original plats in electronic format. County clerks and recorders may save original copies of plats in either the original or digital format. If they chose to save it in digital format, the plats must be digitized or scanned. By storing plats electronically, counties can reduce the time expenditure that it takes to process plats. Both SB20-035 and HB20-1318 provide essential government services without requiring in-person, physical interaction, helping to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Colorado. “It’s time for Colorado to embrace the technology that is readily available to us,” said Representative Shannon Bird, D-Westminster . “This law will increase the efficiency of storing plat files while also providing a secure, readily available method for accessing these important documents. It will save thousands of dollars per new housing development, translating into lower costs for new housing.” Previous Next

< Back April 8, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES HEROD-BECKER BILL TO PUT COLORADO KIDS ON PATH TO SUCCESS Children with college savings accounts are three times more likely to enroll in college (Apr. 8) — The House Finance committee passed a bill sponsored by Speaker KC Becker and Rep. Leslie Herod that would create a new strategy to incentivize and streamline the college savings process for every child born in Colorado. “Creating college savings accounts for our kids has been highlighted as an important wealth-building tool that can tremendously help address the economic and racial barriers to building wealth in this country,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver . “If we know there is a tool that is going to help pull many of our students and families out of poverty and into higher education, why wouldn’t we try it?” Children with college savings accounts are twice as likely to expect to go to college. With HB19-1280, a program will be created to help and encourage Colorado parents to open a College Savings Account (CSA) for their children. Beginning in 2020, $100 of seed money will be contributed to the CSA if an account is opened within the first five years of the child’s life. “The College Kickstarter program will create funding for a college savings accounts for every child born in Colorado,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “This will help give Colorado’s kids a head start and help us invest in our future. Helping families and individuals save for higher-ed is a win-win for our students and our state.” Research has shown that even having $50 in a college savings account has many long-term benefits related to educational and financial success. A 2018 report found that 35 percent of US parents aren’t saving for college for their children. Kids with CSAs are three times more likely to enroll in college and four times more likely to graduate. CSAs also help reduce student loans. One study found that college graduates whose parents had a college savings account borrowed on average $3,209 less in student loans. State Treasurer Dave Young testified in support of the bill. “I’m singularly focused on the financial health of Colorado and therefore in strong support of College Savings Accounts, ” Treasurer Young said. The bill was unanimously approved by the committee and now heads to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation sponsored by Representative Yara Zokaie and Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker on a preliminary vote to strengthen Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws. < Back March 27, 2025 Legislation to Strengthen Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act Advances DENVER, CO - The House today advanced legislation sponsored by Representative Yara Zokaie and Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker on a preliminary vote to strengthen Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws. “Under threat of the Trump Administration, it’s more important now than ever that we strengthen Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins. “When someone is wronged, we have a duty to create a pathway to justice. I’m sponsoring this legislation to uphold our shared values of fairness, dignity, and equality under Colorado law and better protect Coloradans who experience discrimination.” “This bill addresses unreasonable deadlines, barriers to financial compensation and other gaps in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to strengthen protections for Coloradans who experience discrimination,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “From housing discrimination to inaccessible building entrances, Coloradans with disabilities have faced barriers to access for far too long. This legislation provides crucial recourse to people with disabilities and other victims of discrimination to ensure they can receive the justice they deserve.” HB25-1239 expands protections under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) to protect vulnerable communities, especially Coloradans with disabilities. This bill would allow victims of discrimination to receive monetary compensation for unfair housing practices, discrimination in places of public accommodation, or a violation of their civil rights under the CADA for all protected classes. Under the bill, victims would be able to pursue attorney’s fees and costs, and either recovery of actual monetary damages, non-economic damages of up to $50,000, or a statutory fine of $5,000 per violation per aggrieved party. Awards for damages for non-economic loss or injury are limited to $50,000, and a defendant is entitled to a 50 percent reduction of the amount of the non-economic loss or injury if the defendant corrects the violation within 30 days after the complaint is filed and did not knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly made or caused the violation. Previous Next

< Back May 5, 2022 MULLICA BILL IMPROVES HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS Legislation applies lessons learned from COVID-19 Pandemic to ensure health facilities can meet increased demand for care DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Kyle Mullica, an ER Nurse, to improve hospitals’ and health facilities’ preparedness to meet increased demands for care. “Colorado’s nurses and health care providers stepped up during the pandemic in truly unimaginable ways to save lives and keep our hospitals staffed,” said Rep. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, an ER Nurse. “I’ve never seen so many colleagues tired and worn out from their shifts at the hospital, and it happened time and time again with every new surge in cases. This legislation will require hospitals to have plans in place to meet increased demand for bed capacity to alleviate pressure on nurses and ensure that gravely ill patients don’t have to wait in hospital lobbies because there aren’t any beds.” HB22-1401 , which passed the House 37-27, requires every Colorado hospital to have a plan to meet nurse staffing needs. This aims to mitigate the concerns of health care staff regarding hospitals’ ability to meet patient needs when demand surges. It applies lessons learned from the pandemic to enable hospitals to quickly surge their capacity. Hospitals will have to report their nurse staffing plans to the Department of Public Health and Environment and publicize them on their website. They will also have to evaluate their plans quarterly to address feedback and or complaints from health care providers. The bill also requires hospitals to report the number of beds they are able to staff, their current bed capacity, and instances where staffed-bed capacity exceeds 80 percent. If hospitals do not take corrective action to address failures to meet required staffed-bed capacity or vaccine and testing capacities, they could face fines from CDPHE. Previous Next

The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed two bills that would strengthen protections against firearm intimidation around elections and help drive up grant funding to boost mass shooting victim support services. < Back March 17, 2025 Election Intimidation Protections, Funding Boost for Mass Shooting Response Pass Committee DENVER, CO - The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed two bills that would strengthen protections against firearm intimidation around elections and help drive up grant funding to boost mass shooting victim support services. “Democracy is the backbone of our country, and it is crucial that Colorado voters feel safe to engage in their constitutional right to vote,” said Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, sponsor of HB25-1225 and SB25-059. “Election denialism, sparked by the dangerous ‘Big Lie’ narrative, has put a target on the backs of election workers, canvassers and voters. No one should feel threatened for their involvement in the election process, and this bill helps prevent firearm intimidation from impacting Coloradans’ right to vote.” “Colorado Democrats are committed to protecting Colorado’s gold standard elections system,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, sponsor of HB25-1225. “Voters of color have disproportionately been impacted by voter suppression, and it is crucial that we crack down on intimidation tactics so all Coloradans can participate in the election process. This bill strengthens protections to ensure Coloradans can feel safe to vote, serve as an election judge and engage in the election cycle so they can make their voices heard.” HB25-1225 , also known as the Freedom From Intimidation In Elections Act, would expand protections against intimidation, threats or coercion while voting, attempting to vote, assisting others in voting, or helping administer an election. With the exemption of law enforcement officials and hired on-site security working within their scope of work, carrying a visible firearm, imitation firearm or toy firearm while engaging in certain election-related activities would be considered intimidation. The bill would also allow an individual who alleges intimidation, threats, or coercion to pursue civil recourse. HB25-1225 passed by a vote of 8-3. In 2022, Colorado Democrats passed a law to prevent armed voter intimidation by prohibiting the open carry of firearms at or near polling centers. “Mass shootings have a ripple effect on Colorado communities, and trauma-informed services for survivors and victims require funding,” continued Rep. Woodrow. “This legislation would help bring in grant funds to boost victim support across our state, helping Colorado communities who have been devastated by gun violence.” SB25-059 passed by a vote of 8-3. The bill would direct the Division of Criminal Justice to apply for, accept, and utilize federal grant money or other grant funds to improve Colorado’s mass shooting response. The bill would also define “mass shooting” as a shooting where at least four people, other than the perpetrator, are injured or killed with a firearm. Previous Next